"40:40", after eight full minutes, the score is still at the same place——
Sure enough, it was sticky and tight, intense and exciting, it was truly wonderful.
The sixth time the score was tied, both players were rock solid, unmoved, completely unmoved, and after a brief moment of sweating, they had returned to the baseline.
Djokovic continues to serve.
a district.
When facing difficulties, the diversity of Djokovic's serving tactics is revealed. In addition to flat shots, there are endless combinations of spin, placement, lines, etc. to maintain the threat, which must not be underestimated.
So, what about this time?
interior angle.
Moreover, instead of slowing down and hitting the serve with a flat shot, you slightly reduce your force to control the landing point and aim at the T-point. It looks calm and breezy, but in fact it hits the red center.
Speed 187 kilometers per hour.
On the opposite side of the net, a figure started in time, took one big step and was already in place, gave up the small adjustments, and shot the backhand with both hands.
Decisive, crisp, fast, neat...tough.
One, use the force to hit, and collide head-on.
It can be seen from the slow-motion replay that Gawain did not pull the shot with both hands this time. He maintained a horizontal position with his body from the beginning, with a small range and small arc, within a fan of less than 30 degrees.
The completed swing is short and clean, and the tennis ball has already been pushed back.
Although he did not predict in advance, Gawain's reaction, activation and attack were very neat, without hesitation, and he did it in one go. The most important thing was to kill decisively.
The tennis ball drags a flat straight line and goes wherever it comes from. Along the central axis of the court, it passes over the T point and the center line of the service area, quickly returns to the midpoint of the baseline on Djokovic's side, and falls in the deep zone.
.
——Press the line.
Actually pressed the line!
Gao Wen's return service hit the baseline beautifully and thrillingly, causing a squeeze. Djokovic, who had not had time to recover from the serving state, was forced to hit the ball at his feet, and his two-handed backhand control of the racket surface was very hasty.
Obviously, Djokovic did not expect Gao Wen's return serve.
In fact, in the games played by Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray, they very much believed in their bottom line ability, even a little too much. In addition, one or two of the new generation players all stick to the bottom line and almost give up on the net.
Advantage, the bottom line tug-of-war has become the protagonist of the game, so that their serve often has a loophole.
Too slow, too light, too shallow——
What I’m talking about here is not a tactical de-efficiency serve, but a serve whose average speed is not even as fast as that of female players, especially on the second serve.
It is precisely because of this that Federer dares to use the "SABR" tactic, just to steal the serve.
However, Gawain is not Federer. Although Gawain occasionally grabs and receives the serve, his overall playing style is not as offensive as Federer's, so Djokovic did not sound the alarm in this regard.
But unexpectedly, Gawain made a surprise attack.
Resolute enough, decisive enough, tough enough.
Judging from Gao Wen's start, he did not predict this serve; and Djokovic's serve was a flat hit, and he just adjusted his strength to ensure that the T point entered the zone.
but!
At the moment of Gawain's conditioned reflex, he noticed the nature of Djokovic's serve, and in a flash, he had already chosen a tactic and implemented it.
This is concentration.
Djokovic looked a little embarrassed and ill-prepared.
When the ball bounces backhand with both hands at the feet, the racket surface control is slightly higher, and the landing point of Djokovic's signature ball is also shallower.
--Oops!
As soon as he took action, Djokovic already knew that the situation was not good, and out of the corner of his eyes, he spotted Gawain who cut through the baseline and entered the midfield.
Everything flows smoothly.
From the judgment and selection of receiving the serve to the release and execution of the shot to the connection and action of the next shot, you can see Gao Wen's concentration at this time.
Of course, Djokovic was no exception. Still in a state of adjustment, he took small steps to control his center of gravity without any hesitation, jumped on the spot to regain his balance, and in the next step, he rushed towards the backhand position without taking his eyes off it.
He locked onto Gawain, but it was still too late.
As soon as his steps started, Djokovic noticed a pause before Gao Wen stood in the midfield and prepared to take action. The tendency of his whole body to shift his center of gravity was simply a smoke bomb, a feint shot, waiting for Djokovic.
After Qi started, Gawain's forehand swing was completed.
Slash, forehand——
Dive into the gaps and score easily.
"40:AD".
The fourth break point appeared.
Djokovic stopped and felt a little depressed. At this point, it was obvious that he was plotting against Gawain, but he did not expect to be countered by Gawain.
Suddenly, everything was too sudden.
Even though this is the eleventh time they have met, Gawain can always bring surprises in details.
However, this is not surprising. This is why Gao Wen is far ahead in the record against Djokovic, isn't it?
Djokovic used the break to wipe his sweat to adjust his condition slightly, and then returned to the bottom line, preparing to face the test of break point again.
Second District.
Pah. Pah. Pah.
Djokovic's iconic racquet shot appeared again. He racquetballed the ball unhurriedly, and the heartbeat of the O2 Arena couldn't help but match perfectly.
Until the end of time, Djokovic finally found peace of mind, glanced at Gawain, and threw the tennis ball high.
Outside corner? Inside corner? Chasing?
Close and press the forehand.
The landing point was close to Gawain's right side, but after it bounced off the ground, it continued to spin sideways towards Gawain's body, further squeezing Gawain's hitting space and forcing Gawain to lean back and make a low waist.
Action, try your best to make room to complete the swing.
and!
Gao Wen realized before he swung the racket that Djokovic's serve had calculated him this time, because Djokovic's serve was extremely slow. Although he didn't look at the speedometer, it was estimated that the speed was about 100 mph.
It was about 170 kilometers, wobbly and extremely slow.
If Gawain relies on his footsteps to move and completely avoid the space, he can actually launch an attack directly from the backhand position.
But Gao Wen did not expect that Djokovic was so bold. He had just been attacked for a serve and dared to slow down further to get out of the hole. As a result, Gao Wen did not get out of the way in time to grab space.
Relying on your upper body to lean back to open up space will result in yourself being involved in it.
In this calculation and game, Djokovic has the upper hand——
As a result, Gawain's swing was not only squeezed, but also unable to use force. Obviously, Djokovic was calculating this. He had no strength and no speed, causing Gawain to be unable to stretch and swing the racket.
, unable to borrow or exert force, and the return of the ball was completely restricted.
Snapped.
Even the sound of hitting the ball was not clear and crisp, and the return of a dish ball was almost equivalent to feeding the ball in a practice match.
Opportunities are created in this way, and they belong to Djokovic.
Naturally, Djokovic would not miss it. He adjusted in small steps continuously, stretched his forehand like a roc spreading its wings, and shot without hesitation.
boom--
Djokovic launched a powerful attack, and his power exploded instantly.
