Chapter 55: Encountering Challenges
The UCLA men's tennis team has always been a traditional strong team in the NCAA, with a long history and profound heritage, and no one can underestimate it.
But unfortunately, the last time the Bruins won the national championship was a full ten years ago. In the blink of an eye, the students have been replaced twice. Every year's championship journey always seems to lack a little luck, which is very regrettable. What's more cruel is that their arch-rival University of Southern California has only completed four consecutive championships. The celebrations after winning the championship every year are like rubbing salt into the Bruins' wounds.
Champion! Champion! Champion!
Every time a new season starts, UCLA students are eagerly looking forward to a championship trophy, but they return empty-handed every year.
This year, the Bruins had a strong start with a sweeping victory, and the students' confidence was boosted: Maybe they would have a chance this year? The students' feelings were fully revealed in the school newspaper report:
"The journey sets sail again!"
Quietly, students' expectations for the two freshmen are slowly increasing. With two highly ranked strong players, Thompson and Gillon, in the front and two fresh faces, McDonald and Gowen, in the back to increase competitiveness, the overall strength of the Bruins seems to have been comprehensively improved.
Three days later, the Bruins played their second home game of the season. The attendance increased significantly, with nearly a thousand spectators covering more than a quarter of the stadium. The atmosphere also became more intense, and the unique atmosphere of home advantage gradually became stronger.
From this perspective, the school newspaper's reports did play a subtle role.
If anyone pays close attention, they will find that the author of this report is Elena Badin.
This... shouldn't be a coincidence, right?
No matter what, the season continues and the game is still underway.
Once again playing at home, UCLA faced challenges from the University of Wisconsin and Texas Tech University respectively. Amid the cheers from the home court with a significantly increased attendance, the Bruins once again showed their strong posture as the favorite to win the championship, easily defeating their opponents in both games.
"5:0", the same score both times.
The Brown Bears won three consecutive games without any bloodshed. Gao Wen didn't even need to finish the game because the coaches of both sides had reached a consensus to end the game early.
It can be clearly felt that the school atmosphere is gradually becoming hotter. Occasionally in the classroom or on campus, people can recognize the faces of Gao Wen and McDonald. They also wave their fists to cheer them on, looking forward to continuing their good momentum in the next games.
Although not much, and compared to the fanatical support for the rugby team, tennis supporters seemed much calmer, but they could still vaguely feel the ripples of influence, and the friendly and enthusiastic shouts and applause made them realize that they were not fighting alone.
Afterwards, Gao Wen followed the team on an away journey. For the first time since his rebirth, he left Los Angeles and headed to the southeast corner of the North American continent to challenge the University of Florida.
The atmosphere in away games is completely different. The shrill screams, thunderous applause and strong boos form a sharp contrast between the home team and the away team. The pressure and atmosphere have brought about many changes, and the on-the-spot performance will be affected to a greater or lesser extent.
Facing the University of Florida, the Brown Bears lost their first point of the season——
The doubles match ended with two losses and one win. In the fierce confrontation, the top doubles team of the Brown Bears fought to the seventh game, but unfortunately lost with a score of "8:10". At the critical moment, the cheers from the home team boosted the morale of the home team and reversed the situation. In the end, the University of Florida successfully snatched the doubles points.
The University of Florida, playing at home, reached a climax. The roar of cheers and shouts from the entire stadium was like entering a football stadium. The deafening cheering and noise interference created a world of difference in treatment. The singles matches that followed were even more intense, and each player was as excited as if he had been injected with chicken blood.
The competition was almost heated! However, facing the University of Florida, which was ranked 11th in the United States, UCLA still showed its strength as the current second-ranked university.
Giron, who took the lead, withstood the opponent's strong counterattack despite some effort, and sounded the clarion call for the Brown Bears' counterattack with a tough and iron-blooded victory; McDonald, Bremer and Thompson's three singles victories gradually broke down the opponent's defense.
In the end, the game presented a different picture. The away disadvantage actually brought out the best of the Bruins.
"4:1".
The Bruins showed superior dominance in singles, and ended the suspense of victory and defeat early on. Therefore, in the last two singles games, the University of Florida coach terminated the game early and did not finish the game. The Bruins won their fourth victory of the season without any suspense and are still undefeated.
In the next match, the Bruins faced the toughest and most difficult match of the season, as they played at home against the University of Georgia, which is ranked fourth in the United States.
Two teams that have remained undefeated in the same season are facing off. After this strong confrontation, one of them is bound to suffer its first defeat of the season. Both sides have made full preparations, and facts have proved that this is indeed a fierce battle with hand-to-hand combat and bloodshed. The competition between the two sides permeates every aspect.
In the doubles match that started first, UCLA won one and lost two, regrettably losing doubles points for the second consecutive game and falling behind at the start. The well-prepared University of Georgia seized the relatively weak link of the Bruins' doubles and fought hard for the first point that could not be lost.
In the subsequent singles match, Billy Martin made a targeted change:
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Thompson played second singles, Gillon played first singles; Bremer played fourth singles, McDonald played third singles; Di Giulio played sixth singles, and Gao Wen played fifth singles. In other words, the positions of the two singles were slightly swapped, disrupting the pre-match layout of the University of Georgia.
Thompson, who took the court first, faced the powerful attack of his opponent with a solid and stable performance that was eye-catching. He withstood the test of the tie-break in the second set and defeated his opponent with a big score of "2:0", tying the total score for the Bruins.
Gao Wen, who came on the court later, performed even better. He delivered a donut in the first set and won the second set again with "6:3". It was a clean victory that allowed the Bruins to surpass the total score and demonstrated with practical actions the Bruins' second-ranked team in the United States.
From falling behind 0:1 in the doubles loss to leading 2:1 in the singles win streak, the Bruins faced the same situation in two consecutive games with the same score and similar situation. Just when everyone thought that the story would get back on track and UCLA would rush to victory with its outstanding singles strength, the University of Georgia stood up.
Raise an objection!
Not only UCLA wanted this win, Georgia also wanted it.
(End of this chapter)