Chapter 451 Step by Step
The third set, “0:3”, next is Djokovic’s serve game trying to further expand the score.
call……
Gao Wen let out a long breath. In fact, he had almost passed the physical limit. Djokovic's airtight shots really made him very uncomfortable, as if he was thrown into a dryer. His whole rhythm and state were very bad.
Even though he has passed the peak of his physical strength, he still hasn't regained his touch.
He needs a little time and a little patience.
However, since he was already behind for most of the third set, there was no need for him to feel burdened and he had to take it one game at a time, one point at a time, since he was familiar with the positions of the pursuers and challengers.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
Djokovic was bouncing the ball, but this time the bouncing didn't last long and he soon started to toss the ball.
Gawain stared at the rising tennis ball, which was spinning in the golden sunlight, and then he tiptoed towards his forehand position.
Zone 1, close forehand.
Djokovic is a typical baseline player, and close serve has always been a very important component in his serving tactics.
Djokovic's next shot after serving lacks the sharpness to break the game, so the purpose of his serve is not to create opportunities for his connecting attack, but to create advantages for his baseline suppression and control.
Therefore, creating pressure through close serve can not only improve the success rate of the first serve and create a sense of pressure, but also complete the layout according to one's own intentions.
Moreover, Djokovic's close serve is very unique. Ordinary players keep the tennis ball as close to the body as possible to force the opponent to be unable to fully swing the racket; but he often creates a little distance to allow the opponent to move and receive the ball. However, the landing point changes slightly each time, so that it is difficult for the opponent to find a familiar hitting point and constant adjustments are required each time.
Therein lies the problem. The reaction time for receiving a serve is limited to begin with, and you have to adjust every time, which is very annoying.
It can be said that returning Djokovic's serve is not difficult, but it is not easy to return it with quality.
It is especially troublesome when your physical strength decreases and your hands cool down.
At this time, Djokovic served in the same way.
But Gao Wen has gradually regained his concentration, moving in small steps very resolutely, and he did not make a large-scale forehand swing. He just relied on the swing of his forearm to leverage the force in a narrow space and avoid the instability caused by the large forehand swing.
Step. Step.
A squeeze and a push.
Gao Wen had already pushed the tennis ball back.
The quality was average, returning to the middle of the court, but at least the ball was pressed a little deeper and was ensured to be within bounds.
Djokovic quickly adjusted his steps, immediately grabbed a rising point with his forehand, and rolled in a diagonal attack, instantly driving the rhythm between shots.
However, although both are trying to gain a rising point, the difference between Djokovic and Kei Nishikori lies in the flight trajectory of the ball after it bounces off the ground. Kei Nishikori hits the ball more often flat, while Djokovic habitually increases topspin to ensure his control over the landing point.
At this time, Djokovic was looking for a blind spot in the bottom line triangle.
Although Gawain's footsteps were on the forehand position, Djokovic's return ball landed deep and tricky, and the rebound after landing was very strong. When Gawain's footsteps refused to retreat, there was not much space for returning the ball.
At the same time, the difficulty of hitting rebound balls and rising points has also increased significantly.
Tap tap.
Gao Wen took a series of small steps to adjust and led the racket early. It seemed that he was ready to exert full force. This also sounded the alarm for Djokovic at the first time, and he adjusted his steps immediately.
However! Just before the shot, Gao Wen changed his grip from driving to cutting, and used his forehand to cut a small ball in front of the net. The most important thing is that he unloaded the force very lightly.
whoosh.
Small ball?
It was a short ball in front of the net!
Djokovic had not expected it at all, and he started immediately with a push, but his center of gravity moved hastily, and he did not push off the ground firmly, so he slipped.
Then, the opportunity was missed.
In fact, the quality of Gao Wen's shot this time was average. It can be seen that he still lacks confidence in his technique. Moreover, his touch is mediocre now and he dare not pursue perfection, so the distance and height of the ball are a bit too much.
But Gao Wenming knew that his touch had not fully recovered, so he was still very resolute in executing his tactics, and he really caught Djokovic off guard.
"0:15".
What a small surprise! Moreover, more important than the score, the point was not a tug-of-war, but a quick decision, which surprised Djokovic.
There was a good round of applause at the Arthur Ashe Stadium because Djokovic was currently far ahead, especially in the third set, so the fans were more relaxed. Even when Gawain scored, no one cared too much and were even willing to give Gawain some applause.
But soon, the atmosphere became slightly tense.
One point in, Djokovic made an unforced error in his forehand attack and the ball went directly into the net.
One point, Gao Wen scored with a backhand straight line attack after a short tug of war.
"0:40".
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In a blink of an eye, Gao Wen got three consecutive break points in Djokovic's serve.
Zhan Jun and Hu Litao exchanged glances, and both of them realized the change in the atmosphere.
It’s not that Gawain played very well in this game, but after Djokovic broke Gawain’s serve in the previous game, his concentration dropped a bit in this game, and his shots were too rough. These three points were the result of his lack of careful judgment and layout.
Is this because Djokovic had a big lead and relaxed a little, or is it because Djokovic finally reached his physical limit after fighting with all his might?
Or is it both?
But no matter what, the three points in this game were lost a little too quickly, which was obviously not the situation Djokovic wanted to see.
Then--
Snap. Snap. Snap.
Djokovic began to bounce the ball, tactically bouncing the ball to delay time and slow down the tempo in order to disrupt Gawain's rhythm and also to organize his own thoughts.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
This time the ball was bounced for a long time. It is unknown whether Gawain lost his concentration, but it is certain that Djokovic himself was a little distracted, because -
One shot and the net is gone.
Then continue to hit the ball on the second serve.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
The time of bouncing the ball was really long, almost forever, but Gawain's attention was not distracted. Instead, he slowly adjusted his breathing following the rhythm of Djokovic's bouncing the ball, and his concentration gradually gathered.
finally!
When the entire court was almost out of breath, Djokovic finally hit the ball, but the interval between the first serve and the second serve was a bit long. As a result, Djokovic's own serve rhythm was disrupted and his second serve was obviously a bit conservative.
Second serve, outside corner! However, the angle was not torn open, and it landed in an awkward position. In addition, the ball speed was not fast, and the tactical intention of the whole serve was not clear enough.
Push off the ground! Charge forward! Lead the racket!
Gawain pushed the ground with his calves, took a step forward, and rushed out, his eyes fixed on the spinning tennis ball.
(End of this chapter)