Chapter 395: Controlling Destiny
Beautiful!
Agassi wanted to applaud Gawain's forehand attack, but he restrained himself as the shot was still in progress.
This ball was not only sudden but also delicate. The connection between the wrist and the racket felt particularly soft. It was obvious that everything had been arranged before the shot was made, and the final hitting effect was exactly as expected.
To the uninitiated, Gawain's shots may not seem like anything special, but those in the know can see that Wawrinka can be very tricky to handle.
If you step forward, the hitting point of the rebound ball has been missed, and it is very likely to hit the racket frame and fly away directly, especially for one-handed backhand. Federer and Wawrinka often miss such balls, mainly because the space for swinging the racket is squeezed and the hitting point is not found correctly.
If he retreats, the hitting position will be forced back, and the advantage in such a fast-paced back-and-forth ball will be lost. Gao Wen's next shot attack connection may immediately follow up, and then it will be difficult for Wawrinka to get back to the baseline.
However, what makes Wawrinka Wawrinka is his backhand’s ability to turn decay into magic.
However, Wawrinka was forced to take a big step back, but he started his backhand swing early and completed the shot above his shoulder, forcing the attack. The whole swing was stretched and smooth, like an eagle spreading its wings. The connection of the whole force action could be clearly seen, with an incomparable beauty of lines.
Boom! Although it was a passive ball, Wawrinka used his backhand to forcefully tear it apart, exerting force in an awkward position above his shoulder, forcibly tearing the tennis ball into a large diagonal line that ran through the entire court, turning it into an active move and completely reversing the entire situation.
Huh.
Louis Armstrong Stadium was filled with low gasps of admiration for Wawrinka's signature violent tennis.
but!
Everyone could immediately see a blue whirlwind crossing the court. It was Gawain! When the last shot was finished, Gawain had already started quickly, with an abrupt stop and a sharp turn, and was already sprinting horizontally to the left side at full speed, because he knew Wawrinka's ability. His backhand had the ability to tear the diagonal line and break through the straight line, but Wawrinka's hitting line was relatively easier to predict.
In such a situation, it is often a diagonal line, because that is an open space. Even if there is no direct score, it is more convenient to connect with the next attack.
Gawain, run at full speed.
However, it was almost there, just a little bit short.
Gao Wen could clearly sense the quality of Wawrinka's return, like a ray of light and shadow. Even if he moved in advance, even if he sprinted at full speed, and even if this trap was set up by himself, he still lacked a little when defending. This was also Wawrinka's secret weapon to gain a foothold among the top players.
It’s really amazing!
But did Gawain really not anticipate this at all?
Don't forget that Wawrinka's backhand was forced out by Gawain's forehand shot in the previous shot, which means that this was Gawain's plan.
The more critical the moment, the calmer and bolder Gawain becomes. He dares to take the initiative to control his own destiny. For Gawain, he refuses to passively wait for his opponent to make a mistake to win. He needs to take the initiative at any time. Even if he makes a mistake, he should let it go without any regrets.
Ah! Gawain groaned as he exerted all his strength. The next second, he took a big step and slid out. His two-handed backhand was forced into a one-handed backhand, but it was not a drive, but a cut, which filled the last remaining gap between the tennis ball and the court before the tennis ball hit the ground.
Everything, one cut.
Gao Wen was fully focused on hitting the ball, stretching his whole body to the extreme. Even in the face of difficulties, he still completed the hitting according to his plan.
Done!
Not only did Gao successfully catch Wawrinka's explosive attack, but he also used cutting to change the flight trajectory of the tennis ball in singles. The beautiful unloading and wrapping made the tennis ball fly towards the blind spot of the big triangle at the baseline.
Huh! As the audience gasped again, Wawrinka sprinted sideways at full speed, running wildly between the two blind spots at the baseline. He was about to step into the baseline to complete the attack after the previous shot, but the next second he realized that Gao Wen had broken the routine again and reversed the situation again.
Bang, bang, bang!
Wawrinka ran as fast as he could, but his hope was not extinguished, because Gawain's cutting speed was not fast, and he still had time.
Ta-da-da! Wawrinka's running entered an anaerobic state, his attention completely focused on the flying tennis ball.
Why do people always say that Wawrinka's defense is not good? On the one hand, his footwork is very good, but his mobility is relatively inferior.
On the other hand, Wawrinka's offensive techniques are relatively rich and varied, but his defensive shots are very monotonous, often just an ordinary slice. The entire defensive line selection, shot quality and tactical choices are unable to limit the opponent.
Simply put, defense is not just about returning the tennis ball to the opponent's court, but also about limiting the opponent's next attack or even reversing the situation, otherwise it is ineffective defense.
Defense, like offense, requires brains and talent, and offense is one kind of "brain" and defense is another kind of "brain".
Wawrinka only has the former.
That is the case now.
Wawrinka finally arrived, but he soon discovered that Gawain's return had lost most of its power, so the tennis ball bounced very low, which meant that Wawrinka had very limited space to hit the ball.
So, Wawrinka chose...cutting.
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It was basically Wawrinka's usual routine, with no surprises.
But when Wawrinka finished the cut, he looked up and saw a tall figure appeared in front of the net.
Damn it!
Wawrinka wanted to swear, but Gawain's attack connection was too sharp. He actually reached the net in the first time and blocked most of the hitting lines. Wawrinka had his back to the net and did not have time to see this scene, so his cutting shot did not avoid the net.
Moreover, the parabola is not suppressed.
Such a careless mistake! The main reason was that it was their first match, and Wawrinka still lacked understanding of the tactical combination of the young opponent in front of him. He did not expect Gawain to be so bold and adventurous, and dare to make such a choice at such a critical score. The details of the entire return were not polished, but when masters of competitive sports fight, it is often these "invisible" details that determine the outcome.
However, before Wawrinka could swear, he saw Gawain's figure covering the net, and he directly blocked the ball with a forehand push. His technique was neat and straightforward.
Bang! The tennis ball landed heavily on the court and flew toward the spectator stands.
Wow! In an instant, the whole audience cheered.
From offense to defense and then back to offense, the active and passive transitions between the two players were truly wonderful. In just one point, there were at least three position changes. Both of them hit a fatal blow but were incredibly recovered by their opponents. In the end, it was the skilled and courageous Gao Wen who won the point with an unexpected high-pressure ball in front of the net.
Wonderful!
pretty!
Unbelievable!
(End of this chapter)