Coric took deep breaths and regained his sense and composure. He kept making fists and telling himself,
All of this is an illusion!
He can't mess up his position, he can't doubt himself, he needs to be determined and focused. He can defeat Gawain and is ready.
"You can do it, Borna!"
In the interview at yesterday's post-match press conference, Coric was sincere. He believed he could do it, defeat Gawain, and then prove himself again:
Just like facing Nadal in Basel last year.
Coric turned around, his back to Gawain, he kept clenching his fists secretly, cheering himself up, and then kept jumping, constantly mobilizing his body.
He needs to be more positive and more positive——
Then, after finally finishing his mental preparation, he turned around, stood on the baseline, and was ready to receive the serve, hoping that he could create some waves in Gawain's serve.
But……
Where are people?
Across from the stadium, it was completely empty, and Gawain was nowhere to be seen.
Coric couldn't help but be stunned. The reason and calmness he had just found were suddenly occupied by a series of question marks, and he blinked in confusion.
Subconsciously, Coric looked up at the referee, and then saw the referee's helpless expression.
"Borna, I've been calling you."
"Break between games."
Seeing that Coric still didn't react, the referee repeated it again.
"It's inter-inning time now."
Coric:…
After a whole beat, Coric finally came to his senses and realized what the referee's words meant:
After your own serve, there should be a break between games. After ninety seconds, Gawain's serve will begin.
Coric was so immersed in the game that he forgot about it. Even now, he didn't fully react. He took steps towards the players' dugout in a daze.
Then.
The "disappeared" Gawain reappeared.
Gao Wen was already sitting in the players' dugout, eating a banana. As if aware of Coric's eyes, Gao Wen raised his head and faced his gaze with wide eyes.
When their eyes met, Gawain showed a smile, then took another small bite of banana, chewing it happily:
Bah, bah, bah.
Inexplicably, the Minion's "Banana Song" started playing in my mind:
Bah bah bah na na.
Bah bah bah na na.
"Wake up! Borna, wake up!"
Coric shook his head quickly, trying to get rid of the random thoughts in his mind, but he was worried that his unbridled thoughts would be spied on by Gawain.
Coric: I don’t want to talk.
So, after Coric sat down heavily, he covered his head with a sweat towel. He needed to be quiet.
When the two players came back on the field, Coric had regained his concentration and focused entirely on the game. The young and energetic boy still firmly believed that he could win.
However--
The ideal is full, the reality is skinny.
Facing the increasingly mature Gawain, Coric's weaknesses are all-round. Although Gawain is slowly adjusting his hand condition after returning from a short vacation, although Coric has demonstrated excellent and solid baseline hitting ability, even though a newborn calf is not afraid
The tiger's Coric indeed has the belief that he will win.
but.
The lack of weapons on the offensive end failed to open up the situation, the defensive end was at a disadvantage and was completely suppressed, and the performance of key points was even less rhythmic.
result--
After successfully holding serve in the first game, Coric once lost nine games in a row, losing his armor and armor, and was defeated. After losing the first set, he still couldn't stop the car in the second set.
Among them, the worst statistic is the performance against break points:
After the first service game, the next four service games were all broken at the first break point, leaving them helpless.
Dizzy.
The world is spinning.
The whole game situation was out of control like a derailed train, and then... plummeted for thousands of miles.
Until the fifth service game, which is the fourth game of the second set:
Coric relied on a magical lob shot over Gao Wen's head and smoothly entered the bounds, forcing Gao Wen, who returned to the baseline to save the ball, to return the ball out of bounds in an extremely passive manner. He saved the break point for the first time in the game and broke Gao Wen.
100% perfect break efficiency.
The whole place was thunderous!
At this time, Coric finally regained some momentum, and the suppressed and repressed emotions were released.
In this game, Coric saved a total of three break points and was full of momentum. Taking advantage of his confidence and state to reach their highest point, Coric finally secured serve.
This was the second time Coric kept serve in the whole match, finally stopping the decline of losing nine games in a row and avoiding the disadvantage of being two break points behind in the second set.
Gawain also did not hesitate to applaud him and expressed his appreciation for Coric——
The hold on serve in this game was indeed Coric's explosion of a small universe on the edge of the cliff. His multiple returns were amazing, and his level of playing the top five shots every day is worthy of admiration.
However, Gawain remained unmoved.
In the next game, Coric was ready to take advantage of the victory and get the break point for the first time in the game. However, at the critical moment, Gao Wen improved his serving state and simply saved the break point with an ACE, and then suppressed Coric's counterattack.
Next, he scored three points in a row, reversed the situation and secured serve, taking control of the situation.
At this point, Coric's rising momentum, which had just emerged, was immediately extinguished before it had time to spread.
At the end of the game, Gao Wen broke serve again and won three consecutive games, ending the game neatly.
"6:1", "6:1".
competition is over.
The entire match lasted only fifty-nine minutes, and the winner was already decided!
What is amazing is not that Gawain won the victory, nor was it the score of two straight sets, but the time of the game——
Coric, Djokovic, and Murray all have similar styles. They are accustomed to fighting around the baseline. This style of play is destined to be that no matter whether they win or lose, the time consumption will not be too short.
However, this game was resolved within an hour, and it can be seen from this that Gawain has a good grasp of the rhythm of the entire game.
After the Australian season, Gao Wen’s playing temperament has once again transformed, and he is moving towards the top level in all aspects——
Ranking third in the world is just a world ranking. It represents the outstanding performance of the players during this period, but it does not represent the strong temperament exuding from the inside out.
Just like Serena Williams.
For her, the world ranking is just a number. Whether she is ranked first or ranked outside 300, her championship temperament will not change. As long as she stands on the court with both feet, she has a shocking power, and she is
The one who can win is the real strong man.
Obviously, Gao Wen has now become an excellent player and a top player; and in the next step, he needs to grow into a champion. According to the strong player:
The performance of the new generation in the face of challengers, attackers, and new generations is an important criterion!
Gawain is transforming.
At the match point, Gao Wen broke the balance with a very sudden and very powerful forehand slash, and forcibly pinned Coric to the spot, unable to move. He simply won the game with the winning point.
The game comes to an end.
Coric was still a little unable to react. He walked to the net in a daze and shook hands with Gawain after the game.
Raising his chin slightly, Coric could see Gao Wen, who was relaxed and free-spirited. There was only a little bit of sweat on his forehead, as if he had just completed a training session and it was over before he had time to warm up. Even his daily routine
The training intensity has not been reached.
Think back to the progress of the entire game and the final score...
Coric's eyes were full of sadness and he was almost crying.