In the third game point and review, Gawain did not perform anything special. All his attention was focused on the next point, because he knew that the fierce battle was still going on.
How should you choose your serve?
Gao Wen glanced at Djokovic's position, and it could be clearly seen that Djokovic's position was slightly half a step further forward than usual.
What does it mean?
If faced with a serving cannon like Isner, players often need more time to make judgments because of the amazing speed of the ball. Even a top returner like Djokovic needs to open up space to give himself enough time to react.
.
Then, Djokovic's receiving position will be one step to one and a half steps behind the baseline.
Today, facing Gao Wen's serve, Djokovic's receiving position has been adjusting. On the one hand, it is because Gao Wen's absolute strength of serve is indeed not a cannon. On the other hand, it is because the two sides are facing each other for the first time.
During the fight, Djokovic was disturbing Gawain's concentration while finding out the bottom.
In the previous point, Gao Wen issued his first ACE of the game, which was to seize the small gap where Djokovic was standing too far forward, and then unexpectedly chose the outside corner.
What about this time?
Djokovic did not waver in his tactics because of the ACE in the previous point. He still exerted pressure through his position, and his position was slightly more backhand.
Is this a trap?
In the flash of lightning, many thoughts surged through Gawain's mind.
Then, he made a judgment and choice.
Throw the ball! Kick the ground! Turn! Swing the racket!
boom.
Close and press the forehand.
Gawain deliberately did not open up the angle, but broke the rules and chose to serve close to him. However, at the critical moment, Gawain's requirements were a bit too high. The hitting point was slightly forward, and the control of the angle and landing point was not precise enough——
The close pressure did not completely suppress the ball, but was slightly closer to the center line of the serving area.
This also means that Djokovic only needs to cross part of the way laterally to find the hitting point, and the tactical intention of close pressure is destroyed.
really!
Gawain's alarm had just sounded, and Djokovic was already in place smoothly with one step. His forehand didn't have much swinging action, he just quickly swung his forearm, hit the ball with a skateboard, and then hit the tennis ball.
Pushed back.
Whoosh.
Djokovic's shot was an understatement, but his control was very frightening, his power was slightly inferior, but his speed and angle completely suppressed him——
The return ball falls within the large triangle area of the baseline, and then jumps out low and flat.
Gao Wen immediately fell into embarrassment. Even if he sounded the alarm immediately, his steps started to move on the spot, and he was standing on the backhand position. It only took two steps and three steps from the serving position to the big triangle on the left baseline; but De
Jokovic's return shot was very deep, the angle was already torn apart, and it was still going out after landing.
passive!
Gawain had no room to swing the backhand with both hands, so he just used the combination of turning movements to hit back.
Gao Wen tried to push the tennis ball back to Djokovic's backhand position to form a pull, but the return effect was mediocre. From here, we can see Djokovic's unparalleled baseline control, even if the quality of the ball is not that heavy,
But it can also suppress the space for returning the ball.
It was clear that Gao Wen tried to return a big diagonal, but the landing point was only in the center of the half court, and neither the angle nor the line had time to separate.
Djokovic continued to adjust in small steps, suddenly switching from backhand to sideways forehand, and forced his attack——
Diagonal diagonal line!
This time Djokovic asked for a wider angle, and the tennis ball hit the sideline directly.
In bounds!
The linesman gestures!
Gao Wen had already expected it. Although his steps were slightly towards the forehand position to make up for the defense, his focus was always on the backhand position. He noticed Djokovic's return line and rushed back immediately.
Tap tap tap!
After three consecutive big strides, Gao Wen was already in position smoothly. Although Djokovic widened the angle of his return, Gao Wen did not panic at all because of his accurate prediction in advance, but became more calm.
In fact, Djokovic suppressed this ball very cleverly. It was not a conventional all-out effort. He also added a lot of rotation control to his active effort. He used angle and rotation to shrink the return space and force the opponent to miss through the landing point.
Bit.
Strictly speaking, it is not a good offensive opportunity for Gao Wen. Using flexible and changeable returns to break the batting pattern or a transitional shot is the best option.
Facing Kei Nishikori, Gawain will throw a short ball because he knows that Kei Nishikori's handling skills at the net are not enough, and Kei Nishikori cannot be tough even if he wants to.
But facing Djokovic, Gao Wen refused to do this. Although his net skills are also the biggest shortcoming of the world's number one, Djokovic's ability to handle changing balls at critical moments should not be underestimated. Gao Wen would not
Take such a risk.
Therefore, Gawain’s choice is——
The left foot supports the ground, and the backhand with both hands leads to the shot early. With the swing, the whole body rushes out to hit at a fixed point!
Solid!
Backhand slash attack!
Newborn calves are not afraid of tigers, Gawain once again seizes the fleeting opportunity to launch an attack!
"Smart energy vs. force"!
Djokovic's forehand was still controlled, but Gao Wen's backhand hit the tennis ball back unreasonably.
boom!
……etc!
Why didn't Gao Wen's return ball widen the angle? Shouldn't it be a diagonal diagonal that further opened the angle? But Gao Wen's return ball returned to the center of Djokovic's left half.
What’s going on with the placement of neither left nor right?
Although the ball was dropped very deep, Djokovic was able to catch the ball.
Could it be that Gawain was too young and too impatient to control himself well?
But the next second they saw Djokovic forced to cut a shot with a one-handed backhand, the audience was stunned——
what happened?
In fact, Gao Wen deliberately did not open the angle because Djokovic switched his steps to a sideways forehand in the previous shot, so Djokovic stayed in place and prepared to defend.
If Gao Wen continued to open the backhand diagonal angle according to the normal routine, he would look very threatening, but Djokovic would not have any trouble defending.
Gao Wen deliberately aimed at Djokovic's stance and hit him at his feet. It was similar to a close serve, forcing Djokovic's defensive steps to move uncontrollably, creating an advantage when he took the initiative to attack——
He didn't think he could break through Djokovic's airtight bottom line coverage with a simple shot or two.
really!
Djokovic's steps did not move out of the way, and Gao Wen's return shot was very deep, so the entire swing could not be stretched, and there was no way to exert force. As a result, Djokovic was forced to use a cutting return shot.
Got a ball.
Purpose achieved!
With a seemingly simple shot, the balance of advantages and disadvantages has gone back and forth between Gao Wen and Djokovic several times. The excitement of this game has far exceeded expectations. It was only the first match.
One set has already sent the entire Arthur Ashe Stadium into a frenzy.