Gu Xiao can hardly remember clearly, but paying attention to Gao Wen and liking Gao Wen slowly became a habit.
In just one year, I got used to winning, getting used to championships, getting used to applause and cheers, getting used to comebacks in desperate situations, getting used to breaking historical miracles, getting used to the brilliance of constantly writing myths...
As a fan, he was so spoiled that he slowly began to take all the brilliance and splendor for granted. Once there was a setback, he couldn't help but turn around. It seemed that not being harsh was the most rational thing.
But.
The story doesn't start like this.
At the beginning of everything, the reason why I liked Gawain was because of his unyieldingness, perseverance, and fighting spirit, as well as his devotion, concentration, and wholeheartedness.
It has nothing to do with winning.
In fact, it has nothing to do with victory. He just likes to watch Gawain walk onto the court alone and compete with his own hard work and will in the field of Nottingham University. It is strength, speed and spin, but also wisdom and will.
Spirit interprets the sport of tennis with different charms.
While I fell in love with Gawain, I also fell in love with tennis.
However, from a certain moment on, everything slowly changed. Like those blind followers of the media and fans, he began to pay attention to victory, champions, and records, enjoying the brilliance of Gao Wen's continuous creation of records, and enjoying the aura of victory.
With joy and excitement, I gradually lose myself.
After the glorious end of the Sunshine Double Crown, Gao Wen's winning rate dropped significantly during the clay and grass season, and the number of championships showed a sharp downward trend. In three months, only one Barcelona 500 championship was recorded.
Even Barcelona has only had one final.
Excellent, it is still outstanding; but the magical aura seems to be gone.
Slowly, slowly, they began to be disappointed, began to be dissatisfied, began to question, and began to cool down. They were used to winning and the high standards of expectations.
Roland Garros semi-finals and Wimbledon semi-finals, even such excellent results cannot meet their expectations.
Things shouldn't be like this——
Just like today.
He thought the game was over, he thought failure was doomed, and then the game was no longer worth paying attention to. "It's all a loss anyway, isn't it?"
But in fact, it's not.
The game is not over, and neither is the excitement.
Gawain, not for the first time nor for the second time, proved with actual actions that as long as the performance is not fulfilled, the game is not over, and as long as the game continues, it means that the battle will never stop.
And, they can believe that this won't be the last time.
Gu Xiao couldn't help but hold his breath.
He couldn't believe how much he missed.
More importantly, it was not until this moment that Gu Xiao realized that the spirit and belief that once attracted him and changed his attitude towards life had unknowingly entered hibernation, and were gradually smoothed away in the busy and mediocre life.
, and finally evolved into what I hate the most.
What happened to him?
Looking at the TV screen, Gawain was sweating profusely, as if he had been fished out of the water, his feet were red and his knees were shaking.
However, his eyes were still determined and focused, and he entered a state of total selflessness. He was completely unaware of the outcome and just focused on the game in front of him.
That belief is burning.
Plop. Plop. Plop——
Involuntarily, his heart hit his chest so hard that Gu Xiao even forgot to sit down and just stood in front of the TV, dumbfounded.
.share equally.
.share equally.
Break point. Deuce.
.share equally.
Break point. Deuce.
You come and go, the competition is tense again and again, pushing the atmosphere of the central court to an unprecedented height.
Like a pirate ship.
Go left, go right; go left again, go back again.
Regardless of Federer's fans or Gawain's fans, without exception, they were plunged into a sea of fire——
Sprint.
run.
Go all out.
On the court, Gawain was running, forgetting himself.
Federer's volley in front of the net was light and tricky. With a backhand slash, he found the sideline of Gawain's forehand position. It hit the sideline accurately, splashing a piece of lime powder, and then headed towards the area outside the doubles line.
Fly away, light and floating.
Gawain disappeared from the screen like a high-speed train, and the live broadcast camera could no longer capture his figure.
He threw his entire body towards the audience seat and hit the ball with his forehand. Just before the tennis ball was about to hit the ground, he relied on the inertia and the swing of his forearm to hit it with a whip.
Whoosh!
The tennis ball, like a fireball, follows the "outside-in" route, from outside the doubles line, close to the tennis posts, and cuts into the sideline of the court with great force.
Finally, he fell two steps behind Federer and found a landing spot in bounds.
Break the network, success!
——Buzz.
In the central court, everyone stood up, raised their arms and shouted, and there was a roar in their ears!
“Amazing!”
"God, we can't even see Gawain on the screen. After finishing the ball, Gawain jumped directly into the audience to buffer the inertia."
"However, the network was successfully broken!"
"Gaowen used an incredible 'outside-in' shot to find the line and landing point, and scored the defensive winning point."
"The eighth one saves it again!"
"God!"
"The eighth!"
"If you add the three in the fourth set, Gawain has saved eleven!"
"incredible!"
"Federer's performance was already top-notch, but Gawain's unyielding fighting spirit took this game to a whole new level."
"The entire Central Court has stood up. At this moment, victory or defeat has no meaning. Both Federer and Gawain deserve our respect."
Difficulty breathing.
When the scoreboard returned to "40:40" for the thirteenth time, no one in the audience who was watching this scene could breathe——
Federer, missed eight.
Gao Wen missed four break points.
This is an extreme challenge for everyone.
Then!
"ah!"
Federer roared.
"Ahhh!"
Federer roared continuously in a rare moment, jumped up high, clenched his fists heavily, and roared like a king at his player box.
Milka also clenched his fists and stood up, joining the enthusiastic crowd——
ACE.
Another ACE, endless ACE, like a fire captain, Federer issued the 23rd ACE of the game, and got it again, the ninth in this game, and the twelfth in the whole game.
.
Federer needs such scores, simple and efficient scores. He needs to get rid of the pressure of Gao Wen's baseline that has the upper hand. He needs to end the battle in the first three shots as much as possible. He needs to pull the rhythm of the game as much as possible to the pattern he is familiar with.
Need to grasp the key scores.
Missing eleven, the further you get to the back, the more flustered and soft-hearted you become.
Federer himself was aware of this wavering, so this ACE was even more precious.
On the opposite side of the court, Gao Wen was calm. He was still gesticulating a little forehand. In fact, his prediction was correct, but the release time was a little slower. Federer's serve reached a speed of 130 miles (210 kilometers per hour). He gritted his teeth.
The breakthrough was completed so that Gao Wen could not touch the ball.
Slightly regretful.
But Gao Wen did not have any fluctuations, because he knew that Federer had such ability. If Federer could send an ACE, he could only watch the ball and sigh, and the initiative was not with him.
Now, the only thing Gawain can do is to stay calm and steady, and prepare for the next point again.