It can be seen from the referee's score report that both Djokovic and Gao Wen encountered some challenges in their serve games, but in the end they both ended up holding serve.
In the first set of today's match, Djokovic's first serve has been unstable. So far, the first serve success rate is only a pitiful 48.3%, not even half.
Moreover, Gao Wen also fought very fiercely when returning the serve. He risked mistakes and needed to increase the pressure on his return of serve - regardless of the first and second serves. This also put Djokovic's first serve under tremendous pressure.
Further amplifying the instability of the first shot.
But Djokovic is still seasoned after all. Every time he stands on the edge of a crisis, he is always able to turn the tide and secure serve through his strong bottom line strength.
Of course, Djokovic also caused a lot of trouble in Gao Wen's serve game.
On the other hand, Gao Wen's serving state was very good today. Although there has been no ACE so far, he can always complete the layout through changes in placement and rotation, and the connection of the next shot after the serve is also particularly good.
In the second game, which was Gao Wen's first service game of the match after he broke Djokovic, Djokovic once got break points, and they were two non-consecutive ones, but
Gao Wen's outstanding performance at the critical moment still stood firm, and Djokovic was really slow to start the game, so Gao Wen secured serve without any danger.
Then, the game fell into a stalemate.
There was a stalemate all the way to "5:4". After Djokovic held serve without facing the threat of a break point, Gao Wen ushered in his own serve to win the set.
Obviously, Djokovic will not let Gao Wen hold this serve easily.
"30:30", then Djokovic used an airtight defense to force Gao Wen's forehand attack to go beyond the baseline, and got the third break point of the set.
"30:40", then Gao Wen used a super wide outside corner and a two-handed backhand straight attack to save the break point, and the two sides came to an even score.
Then, the two sides fell into a fierce battle.
Djokovic missed four more break points, and Gao Wen also missed two set points. The two sides reached a tie for the seventh time. This game had lasted for nearly fifteen minutes, and there was still no winner.
Immediately afterwards, Djokovic won a round of 31 shots, which ended with Gawain's hit hitting the net, giving his opponent the sixth break point of the game.
The scorched air was almost suffocating.
Facing the break point for the sixth time, the two sides once again fell into a tug-of-war——
In the first four shots, both sides were suppressing each other's backhands, and then Gao Wen took the lead in changing the line, but the angle was not broken, and Djokovic easily caught it.
Then it evolved into a square ball, straight line - diagonal line - diagonal line - straight line. The figures of the two players running across the field made the golden sunshine boil.
Another sixteen-beat round.
Chance!
Gao Wen's return ball was shallow, and Djokovic immediately entered the baseline and hit the half-court ball with his forehand. The diagonal and diagonal attack is undoubtedly his best line.
However, Djokovic still added insurance at the critical moment to ensure that his shot would land within the bounds, which also allowed the tennis ball to have enough spin height after it bounced off the ground.
Gawain ran at full speed, and even though he had lost his hitting position, he still made a split motion and sliced down hard with his forehand.
Chopping and cutting.
Cutting a low and fast diagonal line, Djokovic succeeded in putting pressure on the net at full speed and was about to make a supplementary shot in front of the net. The forehand ball opened a channel and jumped out in the blink of an eye.
"Deuce!"
The referee had already reported the score directly, and the fans in the audience held their heads and let out incredible exclamations——
At this point, Djokovic has already got the opportunity to attack the half-court ball. He is sure of it. He really shouldn't miss the scoring opportunity.
Djokovic was also very dissatisfied with his performance and cursed loudly toward his players' box, venting his anger.
"...the sixth break point."
Zhan Jun couldn't believe his eyes. When did Djokovic perform so poorly at break points?
"Gaowen has saved six break points. This game has been tied for the seventh or eighth time. In the service game, Jokovic launched a strong attack, but he was never able to break the break point.
Wen’s last line of defense.”
"This fierce battle is still going on."
There were so many ties that the commentators lost count, and the anxious atmosphere of the game was almost suffocating.
Zhan Jun and Hu Litao exchanged glances. Neither of them expected that the competition in the first set would be so fierce.
It can be said that Djokovic has played to the extreme of his current state, and six break points are the best proof. The world's No. 1 can still hold on to the game when his state is not adjusted to the best; but Gao Wen
His performance was no less impressive, and he was still able to stand firm under extremely difficult circumstances.
Just this game is worth the price of admission.
However, the winner of the first set was still undecided, and the fierce battle continued.
Divide equally.
call……
Gawain let out a long breath, adjusted his breathing slightly after a tug-of-war of multiple shots, and then started to shoot the ball.
Gao Wen glanced at Djokovic's position with his peripheral vision. In fact, he couldn't tell anything from his position, because Djokovic's feints had always been very concealed; but Gao Wen was more of a
Anticipate Djokovic's return tactics.
How will Djokovic move?
Tennis is a process of guessing, containing, and confronting each other.
Then--
Throw the ball! Kick the ground! Bend the knee! Turn! Hit the ball!
Outside corner!
Gawain chose the wide outside corner and aimed at Djokovic's forehand, but this time Djokovic's judgment was obviously wrong. He thought Gawain would suppress his backhand, and ended up jumping on the spot, just before he was about to attack.
I found that I had made a mistake in judgment and it was too late to start again.
"ACE!"
"pretty!"
"This is Gao Wen's first ACE in the first set. It appears at the most critical and urgent moment. Once again, we can see the big heart of this young player!"
Zhan Jun almost got into a fight, but on the court, Gao Wen did not celebrate. He just clenched his fists and looked back at Djokovic with a determined look:
That firmness, that fierceness, has never wavered.
Djokovic didn't notice Gao Wen's eyes because he was yelling at his coaching team. Although it was in Serbian that he couldn't understand at all, he could tell from his body language:
He was very, very dissatisfied with his misjudgment just now, and he needed to vent it out.
However, no matter how angry or irritated it is, it will not help. Gawain scored this point in the most economical, simple and quick way, breaking the balance again——