As soon as he touched the ball, Djokovic realized that he hit the ball too late. He watched the tennis ball jump out and adjusted in small steps to try to get ready.
Turning around, Djokovic saw that the parabola of his return shot was lifted slightly, and the landing point was slightly shallow. Gawain immediately cut to the baseline——
Step forward, in time.
Djokovic stood on tiptoes slightly, keeping his body relaxed, his thoughts were racing through his mind, he made a judgment, and then started pushing out.
Forehand!
No...backhand!
It was just a flash of lightning. Djokovic's center of gravity was slightly delayed for a moment, and the best opportunity to start was already missed.
Well.
Djokovic grunted, stopped and turned suddenly, started again, and just as he stepped out, he slid and stretched without hesitation.
With his back to the court, Dapeng spreads his wings and takes a one-handed backhand.
Djokovic's body has been stretched to the extreme, but——
too slow.
Just a little bit, just a little bit closer. I watched the tennis ball break through from the front of my racket and rush out, embracing freedom.
"pretty!"
"A two-handed backhand slash, a shot from the middle, strength, line, placement, and control of the entire shot. Very calm and composed."
"Hit the blind spot accurately."
"Djokovic was just a little bit close, but unfortunately he couldn't touch the ball."
"A winning score!"
"Gawain, keep your second serving point."
Buzz!
Buzz buzz!
The entire Arthur Ashe Stadium was so noisy that my heart almost burst.
This is even more exciting than a long round of multi-shot tug-of-war, because both players need to see-saw throughout the game. In this way, there are not many points to resolve the battle within three shots. The tension and excitement of walking on the wire rope
Instead, he was pushed to the extreme and couldn't react for a while.
There should be many spectators at the scene who need oxygen.
"5:2".
However, the two players on the court were extremely calm and showed no fluctuations at all.
For Djokovic, as long as he keeps his next two service points, he can win. There is no need for him to fluctuate because of one point.
For Gawain, a crisp winning score can boost morale, but it is not enough, far from enough. There is no need to waste energy here.
Game, continue——
Second District.
Get close and press the forehand.
Djokovic, like Gao Wen, continued the game steadily, calmly and methodically, without any fluctuations due to changes in the score.
This time, the speed slowed down, and the speed was only 170 kilometers per hour.
So, at such a critical moment, Djokovic's first serve slowed down so obviously, was he physically exhausted?
of course not.
This is a trap.
However, on the opposite side of the net, Gao Wen had already prepared. Although he did not start the ball in advance, he was no stranger to where the serve would land and started in a timely manner. He also made an accurate judgment immediately that this serve was a strong topspin.
Djokovic also delivered Nadal's signature serve.
The landing point is deep enough, and it will fly high after bouncing off the ground.
Unless Gao Wen learns Federer's "SABR" and cuts directly to the baseline to try to volley, otherwise he will be involved in the high-bouncing rotation squeeze.
When waiting for the tennis ball to reach Gawain's position, the flying height of the tennis ball is already diagonally above the head, which is a position where it is almost impossible to exert force.
However, this time Gawain was ready.
Step laterally, get out of the way, jump on the spot, jump to a higher height, and with one shot of sideways forehand, you have already gained the opportunity to press down from the ascending point to attack.
Swinging, impacting, and speeding up the forehand swing instantly, aiming at the backhand gap behind Djokovic and hammering it down, the whole attack was very resolute.
boom!
The crisp and solid sound of the ball exploded. Maybe Gao Wen did not steal the serve, but the ball was solid and strong enough, and the return was very tough.
but!
Djokovic is also prepared——
Gauvin is plotting against Djokovic, and Djokovic is plotting against Gauvin.
Obviously, Djokovic expected that Gao Wen's return shot would send back his backhand, and with one step, his steps were already in place smoothly.
Not only did he not retreat, but he bent his knees and lowered his center of gravity to stand firm. He used his body as a shield and used his backhand strength to push forward with both hands.
straight line.
Instead of changing the line on his own initiative, he used Gao Wen's hitting power to complete the sideline, lightly pushed the ball to block, and the tennis ball had already passed along the straight line.
Light enough, fast enough, flat enough and straight enough.
With just such an understatement, Djokovic successfully pushed Gawain into a passive position.
Gao Wen had just chosen to take off and hit the forehand sideways. He had just landed. Before he had time to stand firm, the tennis ball had already moved towards the gap. He adjusted in small steps continuously and moved quickly with a stumble, but he still could not complete the adjustment.
My hand could only manage to cut for a beat.
Trying to gain time and space.
However, Djokovic was unwilling.
Gao Wen cut a straight shot, but the line and landing point control were mediocre. Djokovic chose to turn sideways without hesitation and open his posture——
what to do?
The entire venue has been completely cleared, and Gawain's backhand position is wide open.
Even though he knew that he was passive, Djokovic could choose straight lines, diagonal lines, middle routes, etc. at will, but Gawain had no choice.
The top priority is to adjust the center of gravity, return to the center, and prepare to return to defense. The backhand gap is really too big.
Tread, tap, tap.
Gao Wen continued to adjust his center of gravity in small steps, his body had moved to the left, and then he narrowed his eyes slightly to catch Djokovic's movements.
When shooting, he is grabbing for the shot, and the action of initiating the shot is relatively large.
An inspiration, an intuition.
Gawain's moving footsteps had already completed the emergency brake, stopped and turned suddenly, kicked off his left leg, and pulled his body back to the right.
However, it was still a little slower than half a beat.
Djokovic grabbed an ascending point, turned sideways and directly blocked the shot with his forehand, hitting hard.
straight line!
Djokovic kills a return ball.
boom!
The tennis ball swept through a mighty wave of air, rushing towards Gawain's forehand baseline triangle.
Kick the ground.
run.
Sprint.
Adjustment.
Gawain kept moving rhythm and rhythm amidst the chaos of war, taking three steps and two steps. He rushed over immediately, but before he could stand firm, the mustard yellow storm was already coming towards him, and he didn't even give Gao Wen a chance.
When Wen swung his racket to accumulate power, everything was too fast.
Without even waiting for the steps to be adjusted, he had already waved his forehand to block it.
One push, one sweep.
Without the support of lower limbs, he relied entirely on the waving and driving of his arms. The oncoming force came overwhelming, but Gawain refused to give in.
ah!
work hard.
Ahhhh!
break out.
Gao Wen's forehand was completely swept out. With only the support of his upper body, he used his strength to sweep and push, releasing all the power deep in his Dantian.
boom.
There was a crisp sound.
Tennis ball, jumped out.
slash.
inside-out line.
Hit the wall and fight back.
Everything, everything happens in the blink of an eye.
Like Gawain, Djokovic had no time to adjust his center of gravity after finishing his sideways forehand, and Gawain's counterattack had already jumped back.
After a pause, Djokovic gave up the pursuit and stared at the tennis ball like the entire audience, watching the tennis ball cross the entire court. Now there is only one question left:
Inbounds or outbounds?
Watching, watching...the whole court watched, watching the tennis ball fall into the court, completely empty, undoubtedly in bounds.