At the break point, Kei Nishikori's first serve was obviously slow. Is this a tactical deceleration?
Gao Wen himself often slows down deliberately at critical moments, but the premise of tactical deceleration is that his serve has always been able to maintain a certain speed, and then suddenly slows down and loses force, disrupting the opponent's habitual rhythm of receiving the serve.
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However, if Kei Nishikori's first serve is always slow, the tactical significance of slowing down is not high. It should be more about ensuring the success rate of the first serve and creating psychological pressure, at least forcing the opponent not to be as unscrupulous as grabbing the second serve.
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In fact, this is also Nishikori Kei's scheme against Gawain.
Kick the ground!
Step!
Gao Wen was indeed calculated. He predicted the outside corner and took a step forward. However, the action that usually allowed him to gain a shot of time now turned into taking the shot too early due to the slowdown of the ball speed. The entire batting rhythm was not so perfect.
Harmonious.
However, in the blink of an eye, Gao Wen still completed the adjustment. Although he missed the time to grab and receive the serve, he was still able to take the initiative to attack with such a slow serve.
Gawain steadily completed the two-handed backhand swing——
boom!
At this point, you can see Gawain's tricks. Since he can't use his strength to grab a return serve, he simply changes his batting routine:
Gao Wen did not fully exert his strength, but simply hit the racket lightly, tilting the racket upwards and outwards. When receiving the serve, he actually left a small diagonal line, and the tennis ball returned to Nishikori Kei's left side to serve.
In the area, he ran out like a naughty elf.
"Serve from outside corner VS receive from outside corner".
Kei Nishikori didn't have the angle to tear him apart, but he was torn apart by Gawain.
The effect of this tap was particularly good. There was a low exclamation from Arthur Ashe Stadium, but then Kei Nishikori was seen running at full speed.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap.
Kei Nishikori quickly moved laterally, then stood on one foot, using the movement of a white crane spreading its wings, and hit the tennis ball hard after it bounced off the ground.
Baihe's action of spreading his wings is on the one hand to grab points, and on the other hand to exert force. He transforms all the strength of his body and the inertia of forward motion into the power of hitting the ball and vents it out.
Instant speed boost!
Gawain is deliberately slowing down here.
Kei Nishikori immediately picked up the speed.
The two players are still calculating, and every shot is full of invisible details. Then the tennis ball goes diagonally along the diagonal and returns to Gawain's backhand position, and even Nishikori Kei separates the angle slightly.
, and the speed increased to another level, rushing towards the sideline like lightning.
The pace is a little off.
The ball can still be touched, but there is not enough space for the swing. The wisest choice would be to cut the shot and return to Nishikori's backhand position.
But this also leads to Kei Nishikori's trap, because Kei Nishikori can immediately hit the ascending point and aim for the forehand gap, forcing Gawain to become passive.
Of course, Gao Wen can hit the ball like this. Anyway, Nishikori Kei's hitting power is not enough, and his defense always has time, just like against Salamento; but Gao Wen doesn't want to, he consciously wants to break the routine.
, forcing Kei Nishikori's plan to fail.
So, what should we do?
In fact, there is no time to think, everything happens in a flash. Gawain must finish thinking about the next shot while running in place, otherwise he may miss the hitting point, especially Nishikori Kei's shot.
The quality of the counter shot was really too high, just hitting the line, once again making people feel the fiery touch of Kei Nishikori.
Left leg, push off the ground.
Hands, cutting.
Gawain still chose cutting, and he still chose the slash. This was the wisest choice.
Kei Nishikori's eyes lit up. Gawain's return hit his trap. He needed to adjust his steps slightly to complete the shot.
but!
Nishikori Kei immediately realized that something was wrong——
Half ball?
Gao Wen actually made a mediocre half-court ball. It was not a small ball in front of the net, nor a deep baseline ball, but a half-court ball that was neither forward nor backward nor embarrassing.
Logically speaking, half-court ball is equal to a chance ball, and you can attack immediately, but Kei Nishikori immediately noticed the trick hidden in it. Gawain cut a backspin ball and effectively completed the offload, which was also
This means that after the tennis ball hits the ground, it rebounds with little force and continues to rise, forcing the receiving party to completely lower its center of gravity to complete the ball.
Lowering the center of gravity has never been a problem for the 178cm Kei Nishikori.
However, Kei Nishikori found that he couldn't grab the rising point even if he wanted to. The height of the rebound was too low, and if he exerted too much force, he might go directly to the net.
But Nishikori Kei still handled it very easily. He entered the baseline with a few strides, and steadily pulled a big baseline triangle with strong topspin with both hands on his backhand, trying to squeeze Gao Wen with the speed, tail power and spin of tennis.
The swing space will continue to give yourself an advantage in the next shot.
That’s it…wait!
When Nishikori Kei finished hitting the ball, he could see Gawain's figure already in place. He immediately realized that his choice to hit the straight gap was completely seen through by Gawain. It could even be said that Gawain chose to cut the midfielder.
The trap of the ball, but by the time Kei Nishikori realized this, it was already too late.
Speed? Rotation? The blind spot of the bottom line triangle?
These have no suppressive effect on Gawain, and then you can see that Gawain did not retreat, but took the initiative to step forward and press forward.
With this action, Kei Nishikori immediately understood Gawain's intention, because this is the shot he is best at:
Step forward to grab the rising point!
How could he forget that although Gawain was tall, his batting style did not have the bulky and solid characteristics of those big men. On the contrary, he was always very light and agile.
But now it's too late to realize all this.
Kick on the ground! Lead the shot! Grab the point!
From slowing down the rhythm to suddenly accelerating, Gao Wen changed freely. His forehand was very fast and timely. He knocked the tennis ball back directly with a lifting movement, and his active muscle lines were very obvious.
boom!
The tennis ball turned into a ray of light and shadow across the entire court, flying back toward Nishikori Kei's forehand gap. However, Nishikori Kei's steps still stayed in an awkward position, and he was still a long way from volleying forward.
Duan, when he returned to the baseline, he missed a lot in hitting the ball. He could only watch the tennis ball pass by, and he had no chance.
Or in other words, out of bounds?
Obviously not, everything is in Gawain's calculation. The last winning shot is almost waiting in place. He only needs to make a swing to complete the score. How could Gawain pursue those risky shots?
"Game, high!"
Break, success!
As always, at the most critical moment of the first set, Gao Wen sharply improved his condition, seized the opportunity, and gained the upper hand in the game of calculation and counter-calculation. After breaking serve again, he ushered in his own serve to win the set.
Nishikori Kei stood there, a little annoyed, annoyed that he had not been able to see through Gawain's tactical intention in advance with the midfield shot just now. He slumped his shoulders and walked back to the baseline dejectedly, as if he had lost the whole world.