Chapter 842: Fighting Side by Side
Gawain, I am serious. I am not exaggerating, flattering, or joking.
Looking back at the historical journey of Chinese men's singles tennis, it can be condensed into two names.
One is Pan Bing.
Since Pan Bing first won the Asian Games men's singles championship in 1990, he began his decade-long dominance over men's singles in mainland China. He was a lone standout, sweeping the field and basically in an invincible position.
It was Pan Bing who opened up the situation in the international arena.
In 1995, Pan Bing won the qualifying round of the Australian Open, which was also the first Grand Slam victory in the history of Chinese men's singles tennis.
In the same year, Pan Bing's world ranking reached 176th, setting a new record for Chinese men's singles players, and no one was able to surpass him for a long time.
The other is Zhang Ze.
In 2012, Zhang Ze, who was only 22 years old, won a victory in the French Open qualifying tournament. This was the first time in 17 years that Chinese men's tennis won a Grand Slam men's singles victory.
In the same year, Zhang Ze continued his breakthrough pace.
Zhang Ze first won another victory in the Wimbledon qualifying round, but unfortunately, just like the French Open, he was unable to go further.
Then, relying on his outstanding performance in the challenge tournament, his world ranking rose to 173rd, breaking Pan Bing's previous record.
He also had a breakthrough in the Imperial Capital Open in September, defeating fifth seed Gasquet in the second round. This was the first time in history that a Chinese men's singles player defeated a player ranked in the top 20 in the world. This victory also allowed Zhang Ze's immediate ranking to rise to 154th, continuing to set a new personal high.
Then, in 2014, Zhang Ze won three consecutive games in the Australian Open qualifying round and strode into the main draw, making history again.
One step, one footprint.
From Pan Bing to Zhang Ze, the wait lasted seventeen years; and it took Zhang Ze himself three years from his emergence in 2012 to his breakthrough in 2014.
All this time, converted into words, would only be a few short lines, but for Pan Bing and Zhang Ze, only they themselves knew the torment and struggle they experienced every minute and every second.
Although his speed is not fast, Zhang Ze is indeed making history with his hard work and efforts; and in the past two years, he has always been the flagship figure of Chinese men's singles.
Perhaps, some people may disdain this, because "ranking 154th in the world" and passing the qualifying test to enter the main competition, these achievements do not seem to be so brilliant, and in the cruel competitive sports world where "everyone pays attention to the championship", they are not worth mentioning, and they are even not something to be proud of, but to be ashamed of.
However, a truly wise person should know that without the previous generations planting trees, there would be no future generations enjoying the shade.
Miracles don't happen for no reason.
Pan Bing and Zhang Ze are both pioneers and founders. They climbed to the top step by step and entered higher realms. Only then can later generations stand on their shoulders and see a whole new world.
Rome was not built in a day; miracles are not accomplished in a day either.
At the 2014 US Open, Gao Wen made a stunning breakthrough and wrote a whole new story in just two weeks in Flushing Meadows.
Finally, Zhang Ze was no longer walking alone and fighting alone. On the road ahead, he not only had friends, but also a guide this time.
so--
When Tobias was asking about the training ground, Gao Wen saw Zhang Ze's name at the sign-in area, thought about it, and then they met at this moment.
Gao Wen was serious, he came here because of Zhang Ze.
The "past", "present" and "future" of Chinese men's singles tennis converged at the No. 17 practice field in Melbourne Park, bathed in the setting sun.
Zhang Ze, with his blood boiling, was stunned when he saw Gao Wen, who was five years younger than him. However, he was slightly different from Gao Wen:
He didn't see himself, he only saw the "future". If even he felt lonely, what about Gao Wen? As the only Chinese male player who has attracted much attention, Gao Wen has too many things on his shoulders. All the "firsts" and "onlys" have come one after another. Even among the top 180 players in the world, he is the only one who has the honor of the five-star red flag.
What about this loneliness of "it's lonely at the top"? After winning the US Open unexpectedly, he created one miracle after another and wrote one piece of history after another. However, when facing the media's pursuit, Gao Wen said, "I believe I am just the first, but not the only one."
Gao Wen is also waiting, anxiously waiting for the second and third friends to join him, anxiously waiting for companions on the road to pursuing his dreams.
In a trance, Zhang Zecai finally remembered himself.
The former self and the current Gao Wen, the present of tennis and the future of tennis, two faces, two figures, and two experiences, just like this, intertwined and overlapped.
Look back at the past, look forward to the future, and then seize the present.
The orange-red sunset burns brightly between the interweaving of light and shadow. Those emotions, those enthusiasms, those surges fill my chest and are almost about to explode. Thousands of words twirl on the tip of my tongue, but I find that everything is so insignificant, because actions are always more powerful and more direct than words.
Gently and involuntarily, the corners of Zhang Ze's mouth rose, as if all difficulties and obstacles were solved. The two figures in his sight separated again and became two independent individuals again. He was still him, and Gawain was still Gawain, but some things were different.
Now, he was no longer alone, and neither was Gawain, for they were running and fighting together, sprinting towards the same goal.
Maybe tennis is a lonely sport, but dreams are not.
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Then, the wind was blowing wildly, and Zhang Ze could see the red clouds all over the sky and the ground blooming in Gawain's eyes, emitting a light of confident belief, so firm and so brilliant, and the sound of the wind brought his words.
“Tomorrow at Rod Laver Arena, we will give it our all and leave no regrets!”
In an instant, Zhang Ze's heart was filled with emotions.
So, Gao Wen knew everything. He knew that he would be on the Rod Laver Arena to challenge Hewitt tomorrow. He also knew that he was preparing to take the stage with the ambition of winning the first round of a Grand Slam.
Not only know it, but also believe that you can do it.
It turns out that he is not alone.
It turns out that he was not walking alone on the long and thorny road to his dream.
It turns out that he is not the only one who still naively and foolishly believes in dreams in the real world.
It turns out that the figure who is walking forward with his head held high and cutting through the waves has never forgotten the countless companions behind him who still hold on to their dreams.
It turns out that they have been on the same path all along.
I see.
Thousands of words are rolling on the tip of my tongue, but I don't know how to express them. The weight of words becomes insignificant at this moment. The emotions in my chest can no longer be suppressed and explode, igniting my high morale and making my blood boil.
"How about it, are you ready? Practice, practice, practice."
Gawain's voice echoed over the practice field.
At the edge of the sky, the orange sunset spreads out layer by layer, as if dreams are burning.
(End of this chapter)