Chapter 1739 Overturning the Balance
Huff, huff, the lungs pumped like bellows.
Jilong did not give up, he was still running, still chasing, still trying, but...
After all, I didn't catch up.
He watched helplessly as the tennis ball passed through his eyes and hit the baseline backboard hard, making a shocking loud noise.
Boom! The heat wave rolled in, and the audience instantly went wild with cheers and applause.
Gao Wen once again presented a classic defensive counterattack, and remained unmoved even when facing Jilong's aggressive and layered all-out attack and defense style.
Wonderful, indeed wonderful! “0:30”.
Jilong, panting heavily, tried to use his brain and figure out a clue, but his oxygen-deprived brain obviously could not think normally.
What...what happened?
It was a very strange feeling. Obviously, my condition and touch had not changed. My offensive and defensive returns were of the same quality. From tactics to execution, everything was still carried out according to my ideas. But suddenly, it didn't work. I seemed to be able to feel the changes happening quietly.
But I can't explain why.
weird.
It's really weird.
Since the third game, when the score was "0:30", Gao Wen has won six points in a row, quietly turning the entire situation around.
But what is the reason?
Which link has gone wrong? What happened?
Of course, this is not a desperate situation.
Judging from the overall score of the second set, Jilong is still in the lead; judging from the small score of this game, Jilong is not facing a break point for the time being. Things are not too bad and there is still room for maneuver. He just needs to keep fighting; but Jilong has an indescribable ominous premonition.
Jilong knows Gawain, his brain is the ultimate weapon.
In fact, this was only the second official match between Giron and Gawain, and the first time in the ATP Tour. However, as a member of the Brown Bears team, he had witnessed Gawain's games up close, quietly completing the layout of the dragnet and firmly controlling the initiative of the game.
As teammates, they cheered for Gao Wen, witnessed the frustration and depression of their opponents time and time again, and cheered with their arms raised.
But as an opponent, that kind of invisible fear gripped the heart so tightly that it was almost impossible to breathe.
Jilong was a little nervous and his heart was beating like a drum.
It’s not because of fear or cowardice, it’s mainly because of experience.
Over the past year, Jilong has been up and down amidst repeated failures and setbacks, and his confidence and beliefs have suffered many blows.
This match is only the fifth ATP-level event in Jilong's career. It is also the first time in his career that he faces a top ten player in the world. He has almost zero experience. Everything is new. A little change may shake his weak confidence.
What’s more, the opponent is Gawain, a Gawain who is both familiar and unfamiliar.
Amid the collision of various factors, Jilong had a myriad of thoughts in his mind, but he couldn't sort them out into a clear context.
This feeling... is really, really bad, just like swallowing back all the vomit from drunkenness.
But what else can we do?
"calm!"
This was all Jilong could tell himself.
"Focus. Concentrate. Be yourself."
Since you can't see the overall situation or control your opponent, the best way is to focus on yourself and execute according to your own tactics.
Standing next to the court, while wiping the sweat off his face, Jilong did a simple squat and stand-up movement to mobilize his tired body again.
Before, I was in a completely excited state, with a double spurt of dopamine and adrenaline, and I didn't feel any tiredness at all, but now I am slowly feeling something.
Therefore, Jilong needs to mobilize himself and detonate all his energy——
He had no room for reservation and had to go all out to fight for a chance of survival.
He doesn't want to leave any regrets.
What should I do with the next serve?
After taking a deep breath, Jilong turned around and returned to the baseline.
Zone 1.
Outside corner.
Although the speed was not fast, only about 185 kilometers per hour, the landing point was controlled very well, pressing on the outer side of the serving area and jumping out lightly.
Gao Wen took a big step and stretched his body completely, but then he realized that it was not enough, and his center of gravity was a little unstable when he crossed his steps.
Spread your wings!
The forehand continues to extend across the singles sideline, leaving almost no space for swinging the racket, so just lightly cut diagonally above the shoulder.
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One cut, everything.
When receiving the serve in an extremely passive situation, he barely uses a forehand slice to complete the shot, so naturally there is no control or layout at all.
Just as Jilong expected, as long as he focused on himself, he would be able to firmly grasp the initiative——
Take small steps and make adjustments in continuous small steps.
Jilong was very focused, constantly adjusting his steps, looking for the right hitting point, waiting for the tennis ball to return to his forehand position along the diagonal line. He had completed the adjustment, facing Gao Wen's backspin cut ball, completing the hit at the knee position, and attacking with a forehand pull, pulling out a loop across the entire court.
Bang! Jilong's attack lacked some explosive power, but the rhythm of the whole connection and the speed increased by the racket head were still very impactful.
With great force and vigor, the tennis ball flew back towards Gao Wen's forehand position.
The reason is very simple.
Jilong noticed Gao Wen's movement. After receiving the serve, he immediately returned to his position, prepared to defend, and moved to the left in small steps quickly.
So, Jilong chose to return the ball and repeat the landing point.
Although such batting lines are relatively rare in Jilong's games, and he is more accustomed to routine batting, such anti-routine can be seen occasionally; however, even an anti-routine is actually also a routine, because Jilong's anti-routine also has its own habits.
Gawain paused, his body center of gravity swayed slightly, and he was already moving towards the forehand position——
This is what Gao Wen calls "the anti-routine routine". For these combinations of shots, even if they are an anti-routine, Jilong has his own template.
Gao Wen was not at all surprised that Jilong chose to kick the ball back in such a situation. He was mentally prepared, so he moved with a little more ease.
With one step and one push, the body is pulled back along the inertia of centrifugal force, and the forehand has already completed the racket swing along the direction of movement.
An active move forward, without the body and feet deliberately moving forward, the upper body and forearm swing and push the racket slightly forward, grabbing the rhythm, using the force of the ball, and with a slight flick of the wrist, the tennis ball flies back.
The line changed slightly. The diagonal line was still a diagonal line, but the angle was not torn. Instead, it was pulled back, moving towards the middle of the court and returning to the center of the field.
For Jilong, it is a choice to choose to receive the ball backhand or keep moving and switch to the forehand to continue hitting the ball.
Jilong moved very quickly without any hesitation. He switched directly to the forehand position, led the racket early, and was ready to launch the next attack.
Lead the shot, push it——
However, as soon as the racket turned around, he realized something was wrong.
Wait, what's going on?
Gao Wen's return ball, why didn't he leave?
(End of this chapter)