At a critical moment, if you increase the speed, it will be like racing, with adrenaline bursting out continuously, then there will be no time to be nervous.
But at the critical moment, when the speed slows down, the swaying state can gradually amplify the tension and anxiety, and even the breathing becomes sensitive.
At this time, that's it.
Unintentionally, the speed of Gawain's first serve did not increase, and then Isner also became cautious. Both players' ball speed slowed down significantly, and the excruciating heat wave at Arthur Ashe Stadium became even more intense.
It surged, as if you could see the lava gurgling under the sun.
Another round of hitting in the middle area, but the ball speed never increased.
OK.
OK.
Although Isner's return ball was in the middle and did not require a wide range of movement, Gao Wen still adjusted his steps very carefully. This time he hit a small diagonal with his backhand, slightly widening the angle.
Tread.
Isner was already in position smoothly in two big steps. He stood on his backhand position, with both feet firmly planted, and set up a turret with his backhand with both hands.
Not good!
Gao Wen immediately sounded the alarm in his mind. It was obvious that Isner was already standing on the edge of the cliff. He absolutely did not want to get into a long multi-shot round with Gao Wen, so the chance of him losing the ball first was very high.
Therefore, he must take the first shot and speed up, even if it is his own backhand position.
really!
Step! Kick off the ground! Turn! Shoot!
Isner's swing is very solid, relying on the powerful racket head speed to create a light and thin diagonal line, and then the swaying slow ball speeds up in an instant, like a bolt of lightning flashing across the sky.
Whoosh!
Isner's return was not only fast and flat, but also swung outward at the moment of release, creating an incredible small diagonal effect, almost equivalent to a serve from the outside corner of the second zone.
Gawain started it immediately.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap!
But Isner himself probably did not expect to create such an effect. The flight trajectory of the entire tennis ball was very graceful, and it rushed directly out of the doubles line.
This also forced Gawain to sprint, and then sprint again. In the high-speed running state, he completed the backhand with both hands early, and his upper body had already formed a state parallel to the ground.
He also mentioned it.
Swing! Turn! Use force!
Gawain increased the speed of the racket head to the extreme, and used his wrist to gently hook and lift it. Without fully exerting his force, he increased the speed of returning the ball. The sensitive and light returning action made the tennis ball cut a thinner one.
The slash was even more exaggerated and jumped directly over.
"Big angle VS big angle"!
Isner's return just now was equivalent to a serve from the outside corner. After landing, it jumped out and flew directly out of the doubles line; but now Gawain's return is even thinner and shallower. It was completely swept in with clever force, and the tennis ball landed on the ground.
When I walked out, I had already slipped directly into the shadow of the referee's chair and the players' dugout.
Huh!
A gasp could be clearly heard at Arthur Ashe Stadium. I couldn't believe that Gao Wen was able to hit such an extreme return shot, almost maximizing the use of the court space.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
Isner stayed on his backhand half and never left, always ready.
At this time, although Gawain's return angle was very tricky, Isner had already arrived in three strides. Before the return angle was completely released, he grabbed a rising point and bounced the tennis ball.
It hit it back and created a small ball effect again.
The difference is that before the three-pointer, Isner was forced to let go of the ball by Gawain's sudden drop over the net; at this point, Isner took the initiative to let the ball go when he had a choice——
Because Gawain needs to run a super large diagonal to reach the area where Isner releases the ball, which is also the theoretical longest distance on the tennis court.
rub.
Whoosh!
Isner was very cautious and focused, controlling the quality of his return as carefully as possible. As he watched the tennis ball arrive at the other side of the court, his feet began to move, giving full play to his size advantage to return Gawain's return.
The ball line is blocked——
straight line?
This is obviously impossible because the nets on both sides are higher. Even if Gawain can catch the ball, it will be difficult to change the flight height and route of the tennis ball.
Slash is the only option.
Therefore, Isner only needs to complete the blocking in the diagonal area.
Of course, if Gao Wen had not caught up with the ball, the point could have ended early.
So, what about Gawain?
Deng Deng Deng.
Kick, kick, kick!
Gawain ran at full speed along the diagonal line at an angle of 45 degrees. The 193 cm tall man ran rampantly on the court, but his light footsteps seemed to be dancing. From sprinting with big steps to adjusting with small steps, Gawain was already there in the blink of an eye.
When the tennis ball landed, there was even time to observe Isner's position.
Whoosh.
Buzzing.
The wind is roaring.
Gawain judged some routes for returning the ball. Isner's unloading was done well this time. By the time Gawain arrived, the tennis ball had already begun to fall. The acceleration of gravity was pulling rapidly, and the falling speed was getting faster and faster. Indeed,
It didn't leave much room for Gao Wen to return the ball.
Slash is the only option.
But Isner was waiting there.
what to do?
Is there no chance anymore?
No!
Small steps, small steps, Gao Wen is adjusting in continuous small steps, his entire upper body is fully extended and leaned forward, the flexibility of the body has been stretched to the extreme, and then, the forehand has completed the shot, but it is not using force, but using the strength of the wrist
Tick and pick softly.
Then you can see the tennis ball drawing a diagonal line and flying through the gap between Isner and the net. Originally, in order to create visual pressure on Gawain, Isner stood in the middle of the two service areas.
Online, it turned out to be Gawain's only chance of breakthrough.
Whoosh!
The tennis ball passed in front of Isner dangerously. Isner immediately realized that something was wrong and kept up with him in small steps, trying to find an opportunity to block it.
But! After passing the net, the tennis ball fell quickly again, even before Isner's footsteps, and landed on the court at full speed.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
Isner's pace has accelerated to the extreme, and even his upper body has reached forward, trying to hook it with the racket.
However, Gawain's return line was so clever and precise that Isner was almost, just a little bit, unable to catch up.
Snapped.
The tennis ball fell to the ground.
Right in front of Isner's eyes, he staggered and almost fell down. Then he watched helplessly as the tennis ball hit the right sideline. After landing, it accelerated and bounced out due to strong external spin. Instead, it quickly jumped out.
He distanced himself from Isner and disappeared like a shooting star.
Isner could no longer catch up.
Time, at this moment, seemed to have stagnated, and even the dense sunlight and boiling heat waves had stagnated. My ears could only capture the trivial sounds of the breeze, those faces, those figures, those expressions and those voices.
All are trapped in the shackles of time and space.
Until a sound came from the depths of the universe.