"Novak, next, will you consider changing the schedule and adjusting your subsequent competition plans?"
The final of the Magic City Masters was over, and the post-match press conference was bustling with people. The whole place was dark, and countless eyes were swarming towards the two players.
Everything is slowly unfolding around the battle for the number one spot in the world.
The reason is simple and intuitive——
Djokovic, the defending champion in the Imperial Capital, was the semi-finalist in the Magic Capital last year and is the runner-up this year, with a slight increase in points.
Gao Wen, the top eight player in Imperial City last year is the runner-up this year, and the top four players in Magic City are the champion this year. Their points have increased significantly.
It’s clear at a glance!
Djokovic is still strong, continuing to increase his points this season and surpassing last year's trend; but at the same time, facing the pressure of maintaining points, Gao Wen also showed further maturity and performed perfectly in the head-to-head confrontation.
, finally shortening the points gap between the two.
White heat!
Really intense!
The scene in front of me can't help but remind people of the clay court and grass court seasons.
At that time, Gao Wen's performance was already good enough, but Djokovic performed even better, thus widening the points gap.
Now, Djokovic's performance is considered top-notch, but Gawain's performance is even better, thus shortening the points gap.
Naturally, an obvious question arises——
Is Djokovic preparing to increase the schedule?
"No, I will not."
Djokovic was obviously well prepared for this, without any hesitation or room for any "I'll discuss it with the coaching staff again". He gave a negative answer simply and straightforwardly.
Answer.
"I will still complete the season at my own pace. I believe I am on the right path."
"I am personally very satisfied with the results of the Asian season. There are good and bad results, but this is a process of progress. Next, we need to review and summarize."
"I look forward to stepping onto the O2 Arena in London in the best possible condition and meeting the challenge of the year-end finals with the best spirit."
Calm and calm.
Steady and calm.
In the blink of an eye, Djokovic has been in the professional arena for nearly ten years and has been at the top for the fifth year. His background is naturally different.
Indeed, in the Asian season, Gao Wen continued to perform strongly, but Djokovic's performance was not bad either. Judging from the points number, Gao Wen's narrowing gap is really limited. Now there is a gap of more than 2,000 points between the two.
For Djokovic, instead of changing the schedule and choosing events with 500 points or 250 points, it is better to stay focused on the year-end finals. As the defending champion, he needs to keep 1,500 points in London.
That is the real key to year-end world rankings.
Naturally, Djokovic's attitude was very firm and unmoving.
The same question was also asked to Gawain. The reporters were expecting a different answer. After all, Gawain was the one chasing after him. No matter how small a mosquito’s legs are, they are still meat. Five hundred points and two hundred and fifty points might be possible for Djokovic.
It doesn't mean anything, but Gawain may seize the opportunity to turn the situation around.
However--
"No, I am not planning to increase the schedule."
Strictly speaking.
Like Djokovic, Gawain did not waver at all, not even hesitating at all. This gesture once again shocked the media.
On the contrary, Gawain once again showed a mature attitude, completely inconsistent with the age of nineteen.
"Of course, I'm looking forward to becoming the number one in the world. That is a dream and a goal. If I can accomplish it, I will wake up laughing when I go to bed."
"But I always believe that this is a process, not a task."
"I should focus on the present, play the game step by step, quarterfinals, semifinals, championship, and then, when it should happen, it will happen."
“There is an old saying in China, ‘when everything comes, everything will fall into place’.”
"Currently, my top priority is to prepare for each tournament based on my own condition, and I look forward to delivering outstanding performance. Being ranked No. 1 in the world is an extra reward."
"For me, this is the first full season of my career. Entering the end of the season, everything is brand new. How to adjust the state and adjust the body. I still have a lot to learn. I don't think the mentality of being too hasty and ambitious can
Please help, I need to calm down."
"So, the most important thing right now is the next race in Vienna."
The passion and enthusiasm in my bones are burning, but I have not lost my reason.
This is Gawain.
The so-called top players not only perform on the court, but also outside the court. How to arrange training, how to arrange the schedule, and how to learn to make trade-offs is a kind of wisdom. To some extent, it even plays a vital role.
, but its existence is often ignored by people.
Perhaps, in the eyes of media reporters, the battle for the number one spot in the world has already begun, and it is undoubtedly the highlight and hot spot in the second half of the year.
However, whether Djokovic or Gao Wen, they are focused on the competition for the world's number one, but they are even more focused on the collision of schedules.
For players, the more intense it is, the calmer it becomes.
For the media, the calmer it is, the more intense it is.
This is also a scene.
The two players standing at the center of the storm both followed the steps, embarked on the journey at their own pace, and strictly adhered to the plan towards the end of the season.
The Asian season is over and the European indoor hard court season has begun.
Third stop, Vienna.
In this event, there were upsets and surprises one after another.
Tsonga, Thiem, Raonic, Anderson, Karlovic and other players were all upset and eliminated early. At this time, you can deeply feel the meaning of Gawain's words——
Entering the end of the season, both the physical and mental levels are at a low point. In the more serious case, it is injuries, and in the easy case, it is a decline in feel and condition. For all players, how to arrange the schedule and adjust their status is a difficult problem.
As you can see, the calls for "shortening the schedule" are getting louder every year, from the ATP to the WTA. The extra schedule, including the Davis Cup, has also been criticized frequently. This is something that tennis must face in its business process.
The problem is that the conflict between players and the schedule is irreconcilable.
Therefore, Federer only scheduled the Magic City Masters for the entire Asian season. After being eliminated in the first game, he did not increase the schedule and still only had one stop in Basel.
Therefore, Djokovic always maintained a calm mentality in the face of fierce competition for the world's No. 1 ranking and did not disrupt his plans in a hurry.
Not only Vienna, Moscow, Stockholm and other events are also unpopular one after another.
However, in the midst of the upset, the top players still stood firm and once again showed their masterful demeanor.
At the event in Vienna, everything went as expected.
Gawain defeated Monfils and Dimitrov defeated Ferrer. The two leaders of Youth Storm successfully met in the final, perfectly responding to Vienna's promotion plan. From the beginning of Youth Storm to the end of Youth Storm, the young and energetic Vienna
It has indeed ushered in a new atmosphere.
In the final, Gao Wen defeated Dimitrov in straight sets, defeating his friend for the second time after Wimbledon and becoming the champion.
Vienna, which was upgraded to a 500-point event for the first time this year, came to a perfect conclusion amidst the anticipation and attention——