Federer knows that he needs to control his rhythm a little, but the point is-
Gawain, do you agree?
Like Federer, Gao Wen is also a master at controlling the rhythm of the game. After experiencing the clay and grass seasons, his entire technique and tactics have become more mature and his control ability is even better.
In fact, after Wimbledon ended, Gauvin did not play a few games, but the real experts can see that in the game between Toronto and Tsonga, despite the injury, Gauvin used different methods to delay the game and seize the situation.
, the entire rhythm control and tactical layout have improved significantly.
While the haters are clamoring that Gawain faked an injury to steal a victory from Tsonga, professionals can see the excellence of Gawain.
Today, it is the same.
In the first set, Federer and Gauvin fought fiercely for control of the rhythm. On the surface, it seemed that both of them were exerting their strength and speeding up, but in fact, the rhythm control was hidden throughout, which affected the two players.
All-round consumption cannot be underestimated.
After all, Gao Wen is still young. Like Federer, he has not played many matches in two months, but Gao Wen's stamina and foundation are still deeper.
As soon as the second set started, Gawain continued to attack, and Federer tried to apply the brakes, which also meant that the game would continue.
"0:15".
Federer lost one point first in the service game. Federer was very calm and calm, and then used his iconic flat shot from the inside corner to win a straight serve in the second area.
The serve with a speed of 210 kilometers per hour disrupted Gao Wen's rhythm. The serve was not caught and flew directly out of the baseline. This is Federer's serving ability.
"15:15".
Federer immediately regained his footing, his expression still showing no signs of panic.
Gao Wen also made a slight adjustment and took a step back in his receiving position.
Gao Wen absorbed many essences from the Big Four's receiving tactics and slowly developed his own set of tactics. His receiving position often changed.
Retreating does not mean being conservative, it may also be a smokescreen to retreat in order to advance.
Such as this time.
He stepped back after receiving the serve, but stepped forward and took a step forward when Federer threw the ball. This is a very typical Murray style of receiving and pressing the ball.
Not only did he take a step forward, but he also mobilized his center of gravity. His whole body was very light and flexible. He stood on tiptoe and rushed out.
Forehand!
I saw that Gao Wen took a step forward to gain a boost for himself. His forehand was launched early and he hit the ball head-on. With his body as the backing, it created a wall-hitting effect.
Sweep.
There are no sidelines and no spin. This is purely a classic shot on fast hard courts. The tennis ball has swept across the net like an arrow.
Nothing fancy, just head-on.
Federer's serving action has not yet recovered, and his steps are obviously not in place, but Federer is also mentally prepared and quickly unsheathes his forehand.
One stretch. One block.
If it were just that, it would be a rebound ball that is difficult but lacks surprises, which is far from enough.
At the same time, Federer gave a soft but firm touch on his wrist.
With such a simple movement, the tennis ball completely changed its flight trajectory and flew in a straight line, defusing Gawain's attack on the return serve.
On the opposite side of the court, Gao Wen's offensive continuity was interrupted by Federer, but his lateral movement was still smooth, and he had already reached his backhand in the blink of an eye.
Gawain didn't wait. He took only half a step to the inside of the baseline, and the hitting point of the ball was already taken a full beat. At the same time, he bent his knees, squatted with his center of gravity, and grasped from the bottom up.
.
Skip.
The tennis ball flew at a low altitude close to the net and penetrated into the diagonal backhand position.
The classic line of "inside-out", the rhythm connection suddenly rises to a higher level, and it compresses Federer's hitting space layer by layer.
Federer hesitated a little -
Scores are important, but it's only the first game of the second set. Does he need to compete physically with Gawain? Should he simply give up on some defenses?
In fact, Federer moved out immediately and reflexively, but the slight hesitation in his steps can still be seen from the speed of movement.
By the time Federer's steps were in place, the hitting point was already very far back. He had no room to swing the racket and could only hit a high ball.
As soon as he turned his head, Federer saw that Gao Wen's steps were very timely and continued to press forward, and he had already entered the service area in a matter of breaths.
A volley shot.
Crisp. Neat.
Land. Score.
"15:30".
Everything happened too fast.
It's not pure speed, but rhythm and connection.
Judging from Gawain's hitting alone, he didn't exert much power, but the entire reaction, connection, decision-making, etc., fully demonstrated the characteristics of the grass.
Professionals and senior fans who are really familiar with tennis can see this——
"Gawain should learn a lot from Federer at this point."
"Relying on the connection of batting to increase the rhythm and form a kind of pressure that covers the whole court."
Zhan Jun controlled himself a little, but he still couldn't help but exclaimed, with a look of excitement in his eyes.
"Now, Gao Wen is still making progress, improving, and learning, and his ability to control the context of the game has also reached a higher level."
"In the first game of the second set, Federer needs to face a small test."
Although there is no break point yet, Arthur Ashe Stadium can also feel the momentum balance of the confrontation between the two players quietly changing.
Involuntarily, the Federer fans held their breath, and the air at the scene condensed slightly.
ACE!
Boom, the whole stadium exploded.
At the same time, Federer also clenched his fists and shouted. Even if it was just an ACE, it was very, very important for Federer to resolve the crisis in a simple and efficient way.
"30:30".
Federer successfully avoided the crisis of two consecutive break points and clung to the score. The situation in this game quietly returned to a balanced situation.
But...is that really the case?
In this game, Federer's two points all came from serving, while Gawain's two points were both winning points. The stalemate in the confrontation showed a subtle state.
Obviously, Federer is also aware of the importance of his serve. When his condition is not completely coherent, he uses his serve to create pressure and win breathing space and initiative opportunities for himself. This is also a very important tactic in Federer's career.
He needs a shot.
However--
oh.
Amidst the lamentations in the audience, Federer had to face the test of his second serve as soon as he served out of bounds.
At a glance, you can notice that Gawain moves forward, approaching the baseline, creating pressure.
It is essentially the same principle as Federer's "SABR", which creates a physical impact through the visual pressure of position and movement.
First zone and second serve.
Federer chooses... to close in and press the backhand.
The placement point and route were changed again in an attempt to squeeze Gao Wen.
Gawain's steps had moved out of the way but not completely. He could not fully stretch out his backhand with both hands, but Gawain's will remained firm and he pushed back straight to the ground with his two-hand backhand.
The batting line is relatively conservative, in the middle, and returns to the original route.
However, make a fuss about the power and placement of the ball.
Heavi enough, deep enough, and powerful enough to rush forward, he rushed towards Federer's body——
Repay others with their own way, retaliate with those who are close to you.