Indeed, Gawain has regained his composure and his fighting spirit is fully aroused, but he still needs some time to fully adjust to his best condition.
At the same time, Bellucic also understood the changes in the atmosphere of the game and he needed to hold on to the score. He once again showed his stability and tenacity.
Gao Wen missed two game points, and Bellucic also missed a break point again. This game was evenly divided for the fifth time. It took eight minutes to break through, but Gao Wen still failed to hold serve.
Then.
——The serve is straight.
Gao Wen relied on a very sudden and strong topspin to chase the serve to break the inertia of continuous flat shots, successfully squeezing Bellusic, forcing him to get out of the way, and the return ball went directly out of bounds, easily scoring a point.
"AD:40".
The third game point.
The air was still scorching, and the billowing heat waves at Arthur Ashe Stadium released endless energy, almost suffocating the spectators at the scene.
Second District.
interior angle.
Reduce force.
For the second consecutive serve, Gao Wen broke the routine. Although this time it was not a strong topspin, the sudden deceleration of the serve broke the rhythm balance.
Bellucic on the opposite side of the court was obviously alert and reacted very promptly, but his judgment was still inaccurate. He hesitated in his two-handed backhand shot, but at the last moment he safely pulled the ball back.
Topspin.
Bellucic is also experienced enough and conservative, but he knows that Gao Wen is not a player who is good at taking the initiative and making strong moves all the way, at least not the type like Wawrinka and Del Potro; and today's game environment in New York is wet and wet.
If you feel stuffy, your body will appear heavy, and it will be more difficult to exert force. However, the same force-generating movements may not produce the full seventy percent force.
In such an environment, the impact on powerful offensive players is very direct; and it is a good thing for players with solid baseline skills and good at dealing with entanglements, including clay court players.
In the fourth round of the 2018 US Open, Australian player Millman's upset victory over Federer was such a typical match.
Bellucic wasn't sure if he could beat Gauvin, but he knew how to seize the game.
This return serve seems simple, but is actually dangerous. It returns to the deep baseline area along the middle, and uses top spin to create a squeeze.
When Gao Wen saw the ball coming, he immediately grasped Bellusic's tactical intention. After all, he himself often used this strategy in actual games to push the problem of proactive attack to his opponent.
But Gawain's approach is slightly different.
He did not stand stubbornly near the baseline to avoid losing the offensive initiative. Instead, he stepped aside half a step, fully opened up his forehand stroke, and even slightly delayed the hitting point, waiting for the tennis ball to start falling before taking action.
A tap, skateboard, reverse slash, aiming for the sideline position behind Bellucic.
If you hit lightly, it is because if you exert force forcefully, you may hit directly out of bounds. Standing at the midpoint, it is not easy to completely separate the angles on the left and right sides, because it is relatively easy for the opponent to defend on the left and right. If you risk completely tearing them apart,
angle, the result may be out of bounds.
The backslash is because the serve is from an inside angle, so Bellucic is moved to the right; so the next shot is aimed at the left sideline, breaking the balance of the center of gravity.
The entire tactical combination is very clear in Gawain's mind.
Then, Gawain went online.
Sudden enough and unexpected enough.
According to common sense, if you choose to hit the net, your body's center of gravity often needs to be pressed forward, and you will rush forward after hitting the ball; but Gao Wen just took half a step back, one step back and one forward, and the activation and adjustment of the center of gravity requires facing the reaction force.
.
but.
Gao Wen's steps on the net were very determined, without any pause or hesitation. The connection of his steps was smooth and smooth. Before the exclamations from Arthur Ashe Stadium had time to rush out, Gao Wen had already reached the net in two or three strides -
—
Bellucic was shocked.
He didn't expect it, he didn't expect it at all.
Between sudden stops and turns, he hurriedly stepped into position and was about to hit the ball with his forehand, and then he was involved in a chaotic accident.
First, I discovered that Gao Wen's skateboard shot contained a trap of outward side spin. The tennis ball continued to move outward after it landed. His body had to continue to extend, otherwise the hitting point would be inaccurate.
Later, it was discovered that Gawain's figure appeared in front of the net, blocking the straight gap. This also meant that he did not have many hitting options and had to hit the ball diagonally.
In a hurry, with no time to think, Bellucic hit a diagonal forehand.
As soon as he took action, Bellucic shouted that something was wrong.
Gawain paused, and with a flash of his body, he cut to the left to block the diagonal line without any pause.
Obviously, everything is a trap.
Bellucic's footsteps immediately started again, preparing to continue to defend, but just as he adjusted his focus, he realized that he was already too late.
Gawain was in front of the net, squatting down with his center of gravity, bending his knees and backhand, blocking everything with a backhand, and the tennis ball flew over the net and fell quickly.
Small ball.Score.
The hair guarantee was successful.
"2:1".
Gawain escaped from death and finally avoided the desperate situation of losing three games in a row at the beginning of the third set.
"pretty!"
Zhan Jun couldn't help but applaud.
"In the last two points, the wisdom and calmness shown by Gawain can already be seen in some of his best conditions. He has no choice but to firmly trap the opponent. The seemingly difficult shot does not require taking any risks.
The opponent is completely in control of the situation before he realizes it."
"In this game, despite the difficulties and although there are still some fluctuations, there is no doubt that Gao Wen is getting back on track."
"He didn't give up."
After saying this simple sentence, he realized the weight of it. Zhan Jun paused slightly before speaking again and continuing.
"The game is not over yet."
Life is often like this——
There are surprises hidden in unexpected places, which can subvert everything.
Everyone thought that Gao Wen would not face a challenge when facing Bellucic, but the ankle sprain became an unknown variable in the game.
Now, Gawain is faced with a difficult situation and is looking for a way to get back on track.
Of course, it's not easy.
Because Bellucic is also trying to complete the biggest breakthrough of his career, there is no doubt that this is his opportunity, and he does not want to miss it.
Bellucic's biggest advantage is stability.
Although he will have fluctuations, compared with young players like Zverev, his overall condition remains at a relatively stable position, even if his physical strength reaches the extreme, even if he faces severe tests.
then--
"3:2".
"4:3".
After Gawain showed his head-up attitude, Bellucic still stood firm and continued to hold serve steadily. Although Gawain's second serve was not broken, Belucic still had one in the third set.
The advantage of breaking serve always maintained a slight lead in the score.
Of course, Gao Wen also gradually entered the state and kept serving continuously without letting the score gap widen.
However.
Step by step, Bellucic was still moving towards victory in the third set.
In the eighth game, Bellucic's serve was still stable.