Since arriving in Athens, the schedule has been intensive. There are games almost every day. From team competition to singles competition, there is only a two-day gap. In fact, daily training is basically at a standstill. Coupled with the NCAA's regulations on training time, it is just simple training every day. Basic training and warm-up training.
However, compared to the regular season, the intensity of competition has increased, and using competition as a substitute for training is also a way to grow.
It seems to be an extremely long time to describe, but it has only been ten days since the opening of the United States Championship. It is conceivable that it is not surprising that neither the physical attributes nor the technical attributes have increased naturally; correspondingly, the atmosphere of the competition is so strong. The pressure and motivation brought by it still caused the mental attributes to naturally increase a bit.
From seventy-four to seventy-five.
Step by step, Gawain's nerves are being put to more tests.
At the same time, the growth potential value was still growing conscientiously, and in the blink of an eye it accumulated to 100% three times before and after, allowing Gawain to win three attribute points.
Facing the upcoming quarterfinals, Gao Wen was also deeply aware of the physical and mental challenges, so he completed three extra points without hesitation.
Two points, physical attributes.
One point, technical attributes.
While improving in a balanced way to make up for his shortcomings, he also needs to slowly consolidate his strengths. After all, the style and method of playing are difficult to change in a short period of time. Gao Wen still has his own accustomed batting rhythm and scoring method. Continue Strengthening your weapons is also very important.
He is eager to win, and even more eager to win the championship. Standing on the stage of the United States Championship, he is still burning with the desire to win and looking forward to moving forward.
A shallow ripple of light blue water spread out, and the properties panel changed again.
Physical attributes: 68
Technical attributes: 74
Mental attributes: 75
Then, the growth potential value returned to 8.11% again, waiting for the next full value to arrive. At the same time, Gao Wen was already prepared for the upcoming duel.
Gawain was ready, and Sarkisian was obviously ready as well. The quarterfinals of the singles competition in the United States Championship slowly kicked off with great expectations.
There is a sense of heat floating in the air in Athens. The footsteps of midsummer seem to have arrived in this land early, making people feel the powerful power of the heat.
Sarkisian looked up at the sun hanging high above his head, as if taking a breath could ignite his internal organs. Such hot weather conditions were actually a severe test for both parties.
For Gawain, physical exertion should accelerate.
It should be more difficult for Sarkeeson to stay focused throughout the game.
The weather is fair, so it depends on who can adapt to the weather better and cross the finish line first to win the final victory.
Sarkisian raised his head, held up the tennis ball in his hand, and signaled to Gawain on the other side of the court that he was ready to serve. Then he took a small step forward, stood behind the baseline, and began to shoot the ball.
In today's game, Gao Wen guessed the coin correctly, but he chose the venue and gave up the right to serve first to Sarkisian.
Sarkisian was a little surprised, because he also likes to serve first.
The representative figures of the point-grabbing style mentioned before, Kei Nishikori, Schwartzman, and Fognini, because of height restrictions, their serves are generally not strong, so they are more inclined to take the lead in receiving the serve; but Sarkeesson is slightly Different, with a height of 191 centimeters, this is an innate guarantee for serving.
Objectively speaking, serving is not Sarkisian's strong point. He is a typical representative of "he has height but cannot serve." Otherwise, his national ranking would not have been hovering outside the 30th place; but serving cannot be considered Sarkisian's weakness is that his height at least guarantees the lower limit of his serve quality.
So Sarkeeson didn't mind serving first.
As for why Gawain gave up the ball, Sarkisian didn't think about it at all.
Moreover, in the previous games in Athens, if the coin was guessed correctly, Gawain would always choose to serve, but today was an exception. Judging from Gawain's playing style, there must be a plan, and Sakison did not think about it at all.
Anyway, just come out and bat.
Soon, Sarkisian felt the impact. Even if his brain didn't move, his body could feel the pressure and air waves coming towards his face.
boom!
boom!
The first sound was Sarkisian's serve.
The second sound was Gawain's return serve.
The solid and crisp sound of hitting the ball creates an effect of hitting a wall. It can be seen that Sarkisian's first serve is habitually aimed at the outside corner.
It’s not because Gawain’s forehand is relatively unstable, but because of Sarkeeson’s tactical routine:
Use the outside corner to serve to pull the opponent out of the court. If the opponent barely touches the ball and comes back, it is most likely a diagonal line. Because the body's center of gravity is out of control, it is difficult to control the racket surface. The diagonal line is a conditioned reflex choice.
Even if there is a small probability that it is a straight line, it doesn't matter, because Sarkisian will often completely tear the angle apart, suppressing the opponent's swing space, and the speed and power of returning the ball will be suppressed.
Then, whether it is a diagonal or a straight line, Sarkisian will quickly enter the baseline, launch the second attack with urgency and pressure, grab the rising point, and forcibly increase the rhythm of the round ball.
As mentioned before, it is a tactical routine.
As long as the outside corner angle is wide enough, Sarkisian's follow-up attack can immediately follow up.
However, a rare probability of one in a thousand still occurs.
Gawain accurately guessed Sarkisian’s tactical routine in the first serve——
Because Sarkisian has used such tactics to start the game more than once, he is not afraid of his opponent guessing his routine at all, as long as he can suppress his opponent, until he meets Gawain.
Kick the ground! Waving arms! Pull the shot!
Gawain seized on a weakness of Sarkeeson's serve. It had an angle, but the strength and speed were very average. Therefore, it can be clearly seen that Gawain's swing was not complete, and he only made half of the lead-in and hitting movements. It's very simple, with almost no spin attached to it. Instead, it uses a flat return method to complete a wall-hitting bounce.
The ball return was flat and fast, like a bolt of lightning.
With a bang, he rushed directly towards the diagonal diagonal, fast and fierce, as fast as lightning.
speed!
Sarkisian is trying to increase the rhythm, and similarly, Gao Wen's return method is also increasing the speed.
Fight fast with fast speed.
Comparable to ping pong.
Then, as soon as Sarkeeson completed his serve, Gawain's return ball came over and crossed the court in an instant.
Even if Sarkisian was standing on the baseline, it would probably be very difficult to face such a shot; what's more, Sarkisian actively entered the baseline at this time, which was almost like hitting the muzzle of the gun, compressing his ability to react and adjust. time, then the difficulty will naturally increase exponentially.
Tread.
While Sarkisian was still taking a step forward, he didn't have time to adjust his steps. The tennis ball had already come to his feet. He hurriedly stretched out his racket to block it, trying to create a rebound ball that landed on the ground, but Gao Wen's return speed was It was so fast that the tennis ball hit the racket and instantly turned into an anti-aircraft gun flying into the stands.
Whoosh!
Accompanied by the exclamations of the audience, Gao Wen successfully scored the first point.
