From the outer corner of the second area, he served with reduced force, and then saw Nadal forced to return the ball with strong topspin. Gao Wen immediately knew that his strategy worked.
He continued to adjust in small steps and continued to move to the left. Although Nadal's return ball returned to the center and was close to Gao Wen's position, Gao Wen continued to move sideways and chose to hit the forehand with his arms fully extended.
The reason is that Nadal's topspin is completely pulled up in this shot. Although the landing point is not deep enough, it is just suitable for attacking when he reaches the baseline position; but Nadal's topspin can never be underestimated, Gao Wen
He needs to grab the hitting point, so he turns his body sideways.
Kick off the ground, take off, shoot, press high and press down.
slash.
Repeat the landing point, turn back, hammer hard, and attack.
The sound of hitting the ball, the explosion.
Nadal was shocked. He took it for granted that Gao Wen would choose to aim for his backhand. After all, in the last game, Gao Wen was aiming for his backhand. But he did not expect that Gao Wen would change his tactics after just one game.
He paused in his steps toward the backhand position, stopped and turned suddenly, and then pulled back again. Amid the violent swing of the center of gravity, his upper body stretched out. Without the steps being fully in place, he pulled out another super shot with his forehand.
The topspin loop ball causes the tennis ball to spin high and fly high.
This time, the landing point was slightly shallower, and when he returned to the middle for the second time, Nadal tried to close the angle as much as possible to prevent Gawain from completely opening the angle.
However, Gawain had already anticipated this scene.
He switched in small steps continuously, moved to the right, and returned to the center position. Not only did he not hesitate, but he also took the initiative to move forward and grabbed a shot with his forehand.
Seize the rising point and tear open the angle.
slash!
The tennis ball flew toward Nadal's right backhand blind spot with thunderous momentum, like a tornado, and then Gawain hit the net.
Very suddenly, but very determined.
Tread.
In three steps and two steps, Gawain had already cut into the half court, creating pressure.
The entire offensive routine combination is very smooth. Although it is not used frequently in daily games, it can still be seen that Gao Wen is proficient and has made rapid progress compared with Melbourne at the beginning of the year.
but!
There was also a tornado on the other side of the court moving across the court.
Nadal once again demonstrated his defensive ability. His anticipation, alertness, and reaction in a passive situation were absolutely first-rate. He had just completed the previous shot and his body was already running towards the other end of the court.
Run, run, run at full speed.
Nadal's speed had increased to the extreme, and he rushed towards the tennis ball with billowing air. He glanced at Gawain's position out of the corner of his eyes, and gave up his two-handed backhand without hesitation, and extended his hands into one-handed gestures.
Actually, I caught him!
With his unparalleled footwork, Nadal managed to cross the entire court and barely catch up, neutralizing Gawain's one-shot attack that he was determined to win, and counterattacking.
Cutting!
In a completely passive situation, Nadal used a one-handed backhand to cut a diagonal shot. However, he did not open up the angle, but focused on the rotation, using the technique of falling sharply across the net to help Gawain in the predicament.
Creating trouble.
squeak.
He braked and barely controlled his body. With no room to pause and breathe, Nadal had already stopped and turned sharply. He started again and returned to the middle of the court. He ran wildly while turning his racket, firmly locking Gawain.
Then, start——
Gao Wen was very attentive. Even though he had established an absolute advantage with the last shot, he did not take it lightly, because he knew that he was facing Nadal, the Nadal who never gave up, so he followed up very quickly.
Falling over the net?
Gawain was not surprised. He got close to the net immediately and took action first after the tennis ball crossed the net but before it had time to fall.
One touch, one touch.
Gawain's muscles all over his body were tense to avoid touching the net while completing the shot. He relied entirely on the skillful control of his wrist to push the tennis ball to the shallow area of the back slash.
That light touch, light and clever, not only removes the power, but also uses side spin to make the tennis ball continue to tilt outward after landing, and after crossing the singles line, it continues to fly towards the doubles line.
Going further and further away, going further and further away.
Just as the tennis ball was about to break free and embrace freedom, a figure appeared, barging in in an unreasonable way, leaving a faint afterimage in the lightning speed. Before the sight could catch it, the figure was already majestic.
The mustard-yellow breeze rushes forward.
Sprint, sprint again.
Before the blink of an eye, Nadal and the tennis ball had left the court and rushed out of the doubles line, so that the spectators on this side could not see it at all. One or two people stretched their necks to explore the scene in the shadows.
The spectators in the stands on the other side could clearly see Nadal throwing his body completely out, desperately trying his best to see the tennis ball about to break through Nadal's blockade and rush out, but saw Nadal once again bewildered.
Take a big step forward.
Whoosh.
With a sudden rush, in this brief moment, Nadal's figure seemed to teleport, making up for the last little gap, and actually reached the right position.
But there was no hesitation. The forehand that had already drawn the bow was already swung forward along with the sprint of the footsteps. From movement to release, it was all done in one go, without any pause.
Forehand, swing——
Not a chip, but Nadal's signature round-the-head swing with super topspin.
Even if he was embarrassed, even if he was passive, even if there was no hope, Nadal did not choose to force the ball, but instead burst out energy again in the gap.
Topspin! Use power! Forehand, attack.
Nadal's iconic weapon flashed across the sky above the O2 Arena again.
One stretch, one bump.
Huh!
Before the exclamation could escape his lips, the sound of the racket hitting the tennis ball had already exploded, and then his eyes followed the tennis ball as it flew across the court.
In front of the net, Gawain took a step forward, trying to block the move forward.
but!
The tennis ball, however, was like a boomerang, miraculously bypassing the figure in front of the net and penetrating diagonally into the open space behind Gawain's left side.
Gawain's body was fully extended, and his two-handed backhand had been switched to a one-handed backhand. Everything was stretched to the extreme, but he still couldn't keep up.
Whoosh.
A flash of light and shadow breaks through Gawain's blockade and opens his arms to embrace freedom.
Ahead, there is only wind.
Gawain turned his head and followed the flight path of the tennis ball with his eyes. He watched helplessly as the tennis ball fell, landed, and bloomed proudly in the bounds.
Inbounds——
There is no way back.
Then, full stop.
Everything came to an abrupt end. At the peak of blood boiling and surging heart, it came to an end with an absolutely strong attitude.
Although Gawain has played to the extreme, although Gawain has calculated everything, in competitive sports, everything still needs to be judged on the spot.
A hint of inspiration, an explosion, just a moment can turn the situation around, subvert all games and layouts, create miracles and write brilliance.
This is competitive sports.
In the last game, Gowen wrote a highlight moment.
But this time, it was Nadal's turn——
Sure enough, Nadal was Nadal. He did not admit defeat or bow his head. His blood was still boiling.
