Chapter 365: Sharpening the Knife

As Hu Litao expected, the third set was indeed very close, and not in the traditional sense.

In this set, Kyrgios served first.

In the fourth game, Kyrgios took the lead and broke Gawain's serve with four straight points, widening the score gap.

In the seventh game, Gawain seized the opportunity of Kyrgios's fluctuating serve and got two consecutive break points. Although Kyrgios saved all of them to make the score tied, Gawain still scored two points in a row and broke the serve on the third break point, and the game returned to a balance.

In the ninth game, Gao Wen got a break point again, and this time Kyrgios performed well, saving two consecutive break points and successfully holding his serve.

In the twelfth game, Gao Wen saved two set points and held his serve, bringing the third set into a tiebreak, where the outcome was decided by a thrilling tiebreak.

Some of them seem familiar.

Back then, when Gawain played against Isner, he took the initiative after winning the third set tie-break. So what about this time when facing Kyrgios?

Obviously, Kyrgios is no Isner.

In the tie-break, Kyrgios served first and opened with an ace. After the score was tied at 1:1, he broke Gao Wen's serve with a violent forehand. The incredible winning point left Gao Wen with nothing but sighs. Then Kyrgios successfully exchanged venues with a 4:2 lead.

After the exchange of venues, Gao Wen stood firm and continued to hold his serve points, catching up to "4:3". The two sides were still only one break point apart, but because Kyrgios served first, his "first serve advantage" in the tie-break would be further magnified. After he strongly held his two serve points -

"6:3".

inventory.

This was a breathtaking tie-break. A difference of one break point, but because of the serving order, pushed Gao Wen to the edge of the cliff in an instant, and he had to face the test of consecutive inventory points.

Although the next two points were both from Gawain's serve, he had no room for error at this point, and Kyrgios was on the other side of the net. Even if Kyrgios just fought for one shot and won, the third set would be gone.

It now seems that Kyrgios has taken the absolute initiative.

So, what should Gawain do?

The answer is, don't do anything, just focus on the point in front of you. Because he needs to face continuous inventory, Gao Wen actually has no room for thinking. The only thing he can do is to play one point at a time, and then see if the atmosphere of the game will change and whether he can find an opportunity.

Snap. Snap. Snap.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium looked solemn and grand under the night sky. Without the sunshine, one could still feel the heat of the lights dancing on the surface of the skin, and the sound of Gawain hitting the ball continued to echo.

Push off the ground! Bend your knees! Turn your body! Swing your racket! Standing in the second zone, Gao Wen's serve landed in the middle of the court near his forehand. The ball was not very fast and flew slowly.

Kyrgios had enough time to move sideways and make space for his forehand swing, but just as the tennis ball was about to rush towards him, he suddenly discovered that Gawain had added enough friction when serving to create an inward rotation. After the tennis ball bounced off the ground, it continued to move closer and closer to his body. Naturally, the space for hitting the ball was squeezed again and again.

Lean back. Lean back again.

Kyrgios was forced to bend down and barely make room for the swing. He swung his forearms quickly and unleashed incredible power within a small range.

Bang.

The tennis ball was flicked out in a small diagonal line, with both speed and power. It can be clearly felt that Kyrgios's last-minute power is still very dangerous.

Even when the body is out of position.

whoosh.

The tennis ball changed its course and flew to the left side behind where Gao Wen was standing. Gao Wen, who had just served the ball a second ago, was obviously not in an stable position. It was too late for him to adjust his position with small steps. He had to use a big step to move horizontally to shorten the space and reach the position in one step.

At the same time, he stared at the incoming ball with his eyes fixed, and completed the shot while his body's center of gravity was in a state of severe shaking.

How to deal with it?

Gao Wen can slice a shot, hit a topspin deep ball, or suddenly put a small ball. If he is willing to transition, he can always find a way.

But Gao Wen didn't want to, he had his own plans.

With no time or space to adjust his feet, Gawain "threw" his upper body completely out, formed a single-leg support with his left foot, pushed the ground with his right calf, and his whole body flew up directly, completing the push of power in the manner of a one-legged stand.

Backhand straight line.

Under extremely difficult circumstances, Gawain once again chose to take a risk.

In fact, it was very difficult to change the line this time, because of Kyrgios's power suppression, and because Gawain himself lost his position and had insufficient space to swing his racket, the chance of successfully changing the line might be only 10%; but Gawain did not forget one thing, this was a tie-break, and now it was Kyrgios's stock-taking -

If he hits the ball timidly and just pursues the safety return, Kyrgios can complete the shot easily and even play it again.

Assuming that the third set was destined to be lost, at least Gao Wen could choose to lose the set, and then face the fourth set with a calm and tough attitude, and try to bring the game into the fifth set.

In other words, this is a contest of momentum as well as a tactical layout.

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Gawain cannot retreat.

Not only can we not retreat, but we must also fight with momentum.

So! Push off! Turn! Swing!

Gao Wen's racket head speed has been fully improved, and at the moment of contact with the ball, he uses the pushing force of his upper body to force his forearm and wrist to move further inwards of the body and quickly retract them, doing his best to complete a "closing door" action and shorten the flight trajectory of the tennis ball.

Bang! Boom! In an instant, he could feel the power rising from the soles of his feet all the way to the top of his head, and a roar erupted from deep in his dantian - for the first time in the entire game, he released the energy from the depths of his soul without reservation, and then threw his body completely out.

whoosh.

The tennis ball turned into a streak of light, and its flight path was forcibly changed again! The jersey fluttered like a ballet dancer dancing, and the full power was perfectly presented through the slender muscle lines. The deep blue in the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium projected a gusty wind on the ground, and even the sweat flying in the air bloomed wantonly.

Then, everyone's eyes followed the tennis ball as it flew past.

straight line!

Blind spot!

The straight, fast, accurate and tricky return easily made the audience exclaim in disbelief. The sound just rushed out of their chests and was cut off. Then they all held their breath and stared at Kyrgios who was running and chasing .

At the same time, Gao Wen, who had completed the shot, did not pause. He landed his right leg and pushed it lightly. Then, his body quickly moved to his right side like a dandelion flying in the air, and he moved at full speed to fill the empty space in his backhand position with dazzling light steps.

Tap tap tap.

Tap tap tap.

On both sides of the court, a white figure and a blue figure were running sideways to the right at the same time, like two streamlines, with strong winds whistling.

(End of this chapter)