Chapter 1914 Whose Home Field?
The rolling heat waves, like magma, meandered down, centered on the Arthur Ashe Stadium, radiating in all directions, eclipsing the afternoon sun.
"Novak!"
"Novak!"
The uniform support of Serbian fans hovered over the stadium, creating a huge wave and truly making people feel the style of the giants.
On the court, Djokovic calmly and confidently entered the court with his equipment bag on his back and waved politely. For the fourth time in five years, he stepped onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium on a Sunday afternoon, ready to win his second US Open championship trophy, radiating a strong belief from the inside out.
Then, amidst the hustle and bustle, the host extended the final note to welcome the second finalist to the stage:
Defending champion Gao Wen.
Buzz.
Buzz buzz buzz.
The air was surging, briefly falling into a gap between noise and roar. All eyes were focused on the player tunnel, welcoming the appearance of the Dark Knight.
Then.
Qiao Wangsheng remained standing with his head held high and his chest puffed out. He raised his right arm high, and the cry from deep in his dantian exploded like thunder.
"Fight!"
It is not about shouting Gawain's name, but about presenting the beating of the soul in the simplest and most fanatical way.
It was like throwing a stone onto the calm sea, a small, light, insignificant stone, but it spread out like a prairie fire. Thousands of huge waves surged up one after another, filling the entire place in a blink of an eye, and the whole world was filled with a roar.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
The momentum, layer after layer, wave after wave, continued to rise continuously. As I shouted, my soul began to burn uncontrollably. I could deeply feel the heat, passion, and madness running rampant in my chest. My blood, which had reached boiling point, flowed wantonly, and the endless, surging energy was all released as shouts.
The whole audience was excited.
One wave after another.
In an instant, even the Arthur Ashe Stadium seemed small. Above this land, the rolling waves condensed into a giant standing tall, beating its chest, burning its soul, and erupting in earth-shaking roars, forcefully announcing the official appearance of the Dark Knight.
"Fight!"
There was only a roar above the eardrum.
Even Djokovic couldn't help but pause for a moment and looked towards the player tunnel, unable to hide his surprise.
Amidst thousands of burning gazes, Gawain, carrying his equipment bag, smiled, waved his right hand, raised his chin slightly to scan the entire audience, his bright eyes filled with the sea of stars, all the splendor and glory of the entire arena were contained in his pupils, and deeply imprinted in his mind.
——The sound was hoarse and deafening.
"Fight!"
No one is exempt. No one!
The same is true in the commentary booth.
Everyone was dumbfounded and silent. No one spoke. The scene happening before our eyes was so eclipsed by words. It was better to appreciate it quietly.
After the two semi-finals, people are wondering who will play at home in the final. Based on past experience, Gawain is considered to be half at home, but don't forget that Djokovic's mass base as a giant should not be underestimated. In addition to Federer and Nadal, Djokovic's home advantage is also unquestionable, not to mention that Gawain eliminated Federer in the semi-finals.
Are New York audiences sure they won't resent Gao Wen? If you add one and subtract one, the audience at the final may be 50-50, watching the show and enjoying the game, and Djokovic may even win more support.
However.
The reality is quite different.
One-sidedly and clearly, the whole stadium was filled with overwhelming energy, standing behind Gawain and fully igniting the enthusiasm of the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In my memory, it seems as if I am back to the 2007 final between Federer and Djokovic, when the New York audience cheered for Federer with their lives.
And today, it happened again. Although Djokovic's opponent across the net was different, the familiar scene remained unchanged.
Looking up, the bright red color belonging to China is fluttering in the air. The roar and excitement gradually turn into echoes, blending into the air and blood.
Before the game even started, the audience had already chosen their sides.
Unexpectedly, but understandably, New York cheered for Gawain.
Djokovic was slightly stunned, with a look of surprise and confusion in his eyes. If he was playing against Federer or Nadal, he could understand.
Although I don't like it and feel a little helpless, it is understandable.
However, Gao Wen? That feeling is indeed mixed. From Melbourne to New York, the position of the home court seems to have been reversed, but this ignited Djokovic's fighting spirit.
Djokovic has faced such challenges more than once, and has even experienced booing and jeers from the entire audience several times. However, Djokovic has said more than once that those boos, provocations and attacks can instead become his energy and fuel, stimulating his state.
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Deep in Djokovic's bones is a kind of stubbornness and tenacity that refuses to admit defeat.
"If you think I can't do it, then I'm going to show you how to do it."
It was a bit unexpected. Djokovic did not expect to face such a situation in today's final. Amid the absurdity and helplessness, his fighting spirit had already been ignited.
Of course, even without the excitement of the live event, Djokovic is already full of fighting spirit.
He has suffered three consecutive defeats against Gawain, and has only won against Gawain once in his career at an indoor court in London last year.
This awoke Djokovic's memories of the early days of his career, when he lost six games in a row against Federer and Nadal and was completely suppressed; but the problem was, those were Federer and Nadal, and in front of him was Gawain, a pursuer and a challenger, so how could he possibly admit defeat?
He must win this final.
And now, there is one more reason to win.
Djokovic withdrew his gaze and began to adjust his breathing, and the fighting spirit deep in his soul began to boil.
“…Wow.”
"It seems that the defending champion has already claimed his place in New York."
"Not only because the young Gawain has remained undefeated in New York so far and conquered the city with his unparalleled performance, but also because of the temperament Gawain showed on and off the court, which continued from last year to this year."
"He played the role of a dark horse last year, and no one was optimistic about his future. This year, due to injuries and accidents, he was overshadowed before leaving for New York."
"However, for two consecutive years, in this city and on this stadium, Gao Wen has demonstrated his fighting spirit and energy with practical actions, conquering the fans with his 'fighting' attitude."
As a commentator, McEnroe cannot name the sponsors, nor can he comment on the sponsors' marketing plans, but the fact that cannot be ignored is that -
Nike's strategy has once again been successful.
Since Roland-Garros, Nike has been promoting the image of "keep fighting" as a new brand feature for Gao Wen.
After experiencing the impact of Roland Garros, the challenge of Wimbledon, and the twists and turns of the North American summer hard court season, Gawain finally stepped onto the final stage of Flushing Meath as a king. This journey is the best interpretation of "constant fighting".
New York went crazy.
The surging heat wave in front of us is entirely the result of Nike's off-field instigation. New York is truly becoming Gao Wen's home court.
(End of this chapter)