Chapter 1013 lived up to expectations
Haha!
The whole audience burst into laughter.
This is the charm of Gawain. His humor, which comes easily and finds every opportunity, can always diffuse the atmosphere and then firmly control the initiative in his own hands.
"……but."
The words were briefly interrupted by laughter, and then Gawain continued.
"But I'm really looking forward to getting out on the court and having a great match with Roger."
"Of course, I don't mean to disrespect Richard. I just want to say, who can say no to Roger? That's Roger Federer."
Boom! The whole audience burst into laughter again——
The reason is simple. In the tennis world, Federer is the well-deserved "global home court". In the true sense, no one can refuse Federer.
Even Nadal's fan support rate is probably slightly lower than Federer's, not to mention other players.
But the point is, players and fans are different.
Fans cannot reject Federer because they expect Federer to win; players are different, they can completely reject Federer because they should desire victory. "Defeating Federer" has never been an easy task, especially in front of a global home audience?
Gao Wen, by making use of this clever misalignment, made a small joke and successfully won the laughter and applause of the reporters.
Then--
Gawain raised his hands and smiled widely, "Richard, I am also very, very, very looking forward to fighting you."
Ha ha!
Laughter exploded again.
Federer's opponent in the quarterfinals is Richard Gasquet from France. Obviously, everyone's attention is focused on the potential matchup between Federer and Gawain, so much so that Gasquet has been completely ignored.
Fans who truly understand tennis know that Gasquet, who was born in 1986, was once a talented teenager. His birthday is only fifteen days apart from Nadal. When he was a teenager, he was able to have the upper hand against Nadal, and he was once considered to be the future of professional tennis with Nadal.
At the age of 18, Gasquet faced the world No. 1 Federer in Monte Carlo, and ended the latter's 25-game winning streak in the final set tiebreak, two years earlier than Djokovic became famous; then, unfortunately, his peak period completely overlapped with the giants and was shrouded in their shadow.
Against Federer, he has two wins and nineteen losses; against Nadal, he has zero wins and seventeen losses; against Djokovic, he has one win and thirteen losses; against Murray, he has four wins and nine losses.
In his career, he reached the Grand Slam semi-finals three times and the Masters finals three times. He had six career breakthrough opportunities, but lost all to the Big Four.
In 2022, Gasquet ranked fifth in the active players' win list, second only to the Big Four, with a total of 568 wins in his career.
He is also the first Frenchman ever to achieve 500 wins.
There is no doubt that if there were no Big Four, Gasquet would have had a good career, but the cruel reality is here: there is no if.
When Gasquet came to Federer again, almost all media reporters and professionals believed that Federer should be able to pass it easily.
Federer is unlikely to repeat his upset loss to Seppi at Melbourne Park earlier this year, which also means that the much-anticipated showdown is finally coming.
I'm afraid that the only ones who are still concerned about Gasquet at this moment are Gasquet himself and... Gawain.
Although Gao Wen is very much looking forward to meeting Federer, he also believes in the core charm of competitive sports.
Everything is possible until the game is over, never underestimate any opponent in any game.
In 2011, at the Rome Masters, Gasquet defeated Federer in three sets, ending his eight-game losing streak against Federer. Any matchup is an opportunity for a breakthrough.
So, what about reality?
Often cruel.
pity!
Gasquet performed poorly and lost to Federer again in three sets. This was his sixth consecutive defeat since 2011.
Federer, headed into the semifinals, and then——
Here we come!
Finally, it's here! "Federer vs. Galvin", the enthusiastic crowds who have been waiting and watching the show since Galvin's emergence have finally waited for this moment! From 2004 to now, for a full decade, Federer has always been a peak in men's professional tennis. Although he has his ups and downs and may not always be able to maintain his best, just like Serena Williams, his existence has become a symbol of tennis.
Any player who wants to win the championship, gain a foothold in the top ranks, and be competitive in the tour must face Federer.
Of course, as time goes by, the "Big Four" now all have this meaning, but no one can deny that Federer is still special.
If anyone asks, what makes Federer so special? It's simple: talent.
Federer is truly "God's favorite". His tennis skills, hitting feel, tactical inspiration, etc. are all rare geniuses.
The latest novel is published first on Liu9shuba!
It is meaningless to simply discuss technical aspects such as serving or forehand. What really makes Federer outstanding is his rhythm control and tactical combination. Whether it is hitting the baseline or serving and volleying, he is not only comprehensive but also all-round. He can show unparalleled ball feel and touch on any court.
Most importantly, Federer's strokes are always so chic and elegant, pushing the inherent charm of tennis to a whole new level.
Federer can make any shot, any situation, seem to be at ease and do it with ease, and complex and difficult shots become light and simple.
It is precisely this "unique" elegance that has made Federer an unparalleled top player and even made tennis a fashion.
Until the emergence of a new generation, from Nadal to Djokovic to Murray, and then to the current younger generation, Federer has always been special. To some extent, he has become synonymous with tennis and has become the most well-known spokesperson for the sport.
Now, Gawain is finally about to stand across the net from Federer. After defeating Djokovic, Nadal and Murray in succession, Gawain is only one step away from unlocking a new milestone in his career. The only thing left is the last goal: "beating the Big Four medal".
At the same time, the theme of "Big Four vs. Challengers" that runs through the entire season is about to usher in a new chapter. How will Gao Wen write it?
and!
Good news, not only that.
With Djokovic and Murray defeating their opponents one after another and reaching the semi-finals, this also means that the 2015 season has finally unlocked a new journey: the top four players in the world have successfully met in the same event.
Unfortunately, this feat was not achieved at Melbourne Park, and there were many upsets. But unexpectedly, when we turned to Dubai, the fans did not have to wait too long, and this moment had already arrived.
Live up to expectations!
So, the peak showdown is about to take place in the Middle East desert.
In the upper half, “Djokovic VS Murray”.
In the lower half, “Federer VS Gawain”.
Who will win and meet in the final?
The war is about to break out.
(End of this chapter)