At a time when professional tennis is becoming more and more complete and comprehensive, there are often objective differences in the competition environment due to commercial sponsorship.
This is a fact and the current situation. At the same time, it also means that players need to adapt to more things when they move between different events.
but!
From Indian Wells to Miami, in two consecutive Masters tournaments, the venues, balls, environment, and conditions have all undergone significant changes. This seems outrageous, especially the difference in game balls, which are used on venues of different materials.
Zoom in further and the entire shot feels different.
It is precisely because of this that the difficulty of reaching the top of the "Sunshine Double Crown" has been further magnified. Everything from adapting to the venue to on-the-spot performance to game tactics needs to be adjusted.
Not to mention ordinary players, even the Big Four are no exception.
Look at Nadal. Although he has reached the top three times in Indian Wells, he has unfortunately lost in all five finals in Miami. So far, he has not been able to collect his own "sunshine double crown". You can imagine the difficulty.
This is especially true for young players like Rublev.
Young players often lack game experience, and it is even more difficult to adjust their status. Like Rublev, he rushes forward with his head down, rolls up his sleeves and exerts his strength, and then suddenly finds out when he enters the real game -
—
The shots that worked well in Indian Wells often hit the net when they came to Miami; or perhaps the texture of the ball in Miami was completely different from that in Indian Wells, so that the hitting point and movement needed to be adjusted.
What's going on?
During the game, you can often see Rublev's eyes questioning life, looking at his racket, his thighs, and Gawain on the other side of the court. His head is full of question marks, and he feels helpless and innocent.
Obviously, this game is very difficult for Rublev, very, very, very difficult.
In fact, both Rublev and Gawain were experiencing such a situation for the first time, and things obviously deviated from what they expected.
However, there are still some differences between the two players.
Rublev is single-minded. Rather than using his brain, he needs to experience it himself to truly feel it and then make adjustments. But now, he lacks enough game experience to interpret, analyze, adjust and adapt to the changes brought about by the entire game.
It was a shock, and the amount of information was obviously overloaded.
He had no choice but to rush forward, as if he were hitting a wall, and hit it hard.
Gao Wen is different. He is used to analyzing and trying any game or opponent, using different permutations and combinations to find the best solution, changes and adjustments. This is the core of Gao Wen's game. Therefore, he is concerned about the changes in Miami.
Already mentally prepared in advance.
Moreover, Gao Wen faced Rublev, a player who was not good at changes or layouts. He only played power ball. This also gave Gao Wen's game more room for trial and error adjustment. In the past, during the NCAA period
, I already have some experience facing such type of players.
It can be said that meeting Rublev in the first game in Miami can be regarded as a blessing for Gao Wen.
Going back and forth, adding and subtracting, Gawain's advantage not only did not shrink, but actually widened further.
All kinds, all kinds.
When Rublev faced Gawain, he felt even more constrained. He couldn't stretch his legs throughout the game and never found his own rhythm.
Very dull.
The gap was widened in the blink of an eye.
That point on match point is very representative.
Rublev serves.
One shot.
interior angle.
Speed 203 kilometers per hour.
The line and landing point are both very beautiful, fully utilizing the advantage of the serving side and putting huge pressure on Gawain.
Gawain is very passive.
With the body losing its center of gravity, I barely blocked the ball with my forehand. I had no control at all and just barely pushed the tennis ball back.
The parabola is a little high, and the landing point is not deep. There is at least two big steps from the bottom line.
The only thing that is certain is that the line is controlled in the middle and does not split the angle. This also means that if Rublev wants to split the angle, he needs to take greater risks.
Rublev's reaction was swift.
Stay focused, face break points and match points, take proactive steps, observe Gao Wen's return route, and quickly adjust in small steps.
Enter the baseline immediately, step up to the midfield, follow up and launch an attack, turn sideways and forehand to force the angle apart, and attack with a reverse slash——
Aim for the sideline of Gawain's backhand position.
Serving, suppressing the forehand; attacking, suppressing the backhand, it can be seen from here that Rublev has a clear idea and a complete idea of his attack.
Gawain, not surprisingly, stopped and turned quickly, quickly returned to his position, and used the backhand force of both hands to sweep the shot. The control of this shot was very good:
In the case of passive defense, using a transition ball does not completely separate the angle and line. It just uses force to hit the ball, but the landing point is pushed deep enough; at the same time, the parabola is not completely pulled up to hit the backspin ball flatly.
Push Rublev's footsteps back to the bottom line and reduce the pressure.
If it were Federer, this ball was unconditionally forced into the net. Then when faced with the backspin ball, he could also complete the control with delicate touch, launch a counterattack in the defense, resolve Gawain's tactical layout, and regain the offensive and defensive initiative.
, then Gawain must rearrange the layout.
But Rublev does not have such ability in front of the net, nor does he have such awareness.
He has no choice.
Seeing the ball coming, Rublev quickly returned to the baseline, pushed the tennis ball back with a solid and stable backhand with both hands, and then drew a diagonal line again.
Rublev's backhand is stable and durable. Of course, it can also exert force, but overall it is relatively rigid and lacks changes in rotation and power. Moreover, because the swing movements are rigid and straight, it is easy to reveal tactical intentions, so he often chooses
Slash, compress your swing time.
In other words, when Gao Wen saw Rublev's footsteps returning to the baseline, his tactical layout was completed. He only needed to wait patiently on the backhand position, and that was it.
"Backhand VS Backhand".
First round, second round, third round.
The two players were in a backhand tug-of-war. Rublev relied on his strength to suppress it, while Gawain always used his strength to control the landing point. The situation was once in a stalemate.
Gawain did not change his line, and neither did Rublev.
But the speed, power and rhythm of the return ball are always changing. Gawain is trying to control, Rublev is trying to accelerate, and the two players are competing.
Next, let’s see who dares to change first, or who can’t withstand the pressure and concedes the ball first.
Snapped!
Gawain's backhand shot did not completely widen the angle, but came back slightly.
Rublev immediately saw the opportunity, took small steps and turned sideways, switched from backhand to forehand, exerted force, and quickly released the forehand.
boom!
The tennis ball rushed out like a cannonball, with all the strength, angle, and speed. It was obvious at a glance that Rublev was preparing to score the winning point.
but!
Not only was Gawain not panicked or embarrassed, but his eyes were focused. To be precise, the shot just now——