The short ninety-second inter-game break successfully allowed Cilic's chaotic brain to calm down, regain his composure, and regain his sense of down-to-earth. When the game started again, Cilic's entire tactical routine became clear.
——
Cilic, who defeated Federer with overwhelming and smooth attacks, finally appeared on the final stage.
In Cilic's service game after "3:0", Gao Wen still played well and took the initiative, winning three non-consecutive break points. However, Cilic played very well at the critical moment and failed to serve.
In a difficult situation that created enough advantages for himself, Cilic turned the situation around through excellent defense and sharp offense.
Round ball, finally here.
The most rare thing is that the serving state is still wandering out, but the hitting touch still stabilizes the situation. Cilic showed his solid baseline skills, footwork, landing point prediction and shot selection.
There is a strong recovery trend, and the situation is gradually returning to equilibrium.
and!
The return of baseline hitting feel allowed Cilic to regain the focus of the game, gain a firm footing, his mentality gradually calmed down, and his serving condition gradually improved.
After four deuces, three break points saved, one game point missed, and nearly seven minutes of struggle, Cilic finally seized the opportunity on his second game point and used his signature forehand diagonal attack to force a break.
Gao Wen's defense secured his first serve with a winning point.
"3:1".
The entanglement and anxiety in this game also became an important turning point in the game, because it meant that Cilic finally got rid of the tension and panic in the opening stage. The game was on track and the confrontation was officially formed. Then Gao Wen wanted to score as easily as he did in the opening stage.
It's not that easy anymore.
One thing to note is that Cilic's serving form at this year's US Open was not particularly impressive. He averaged 15 aces per game, ranking seventh among all players, on par with Wawrinka; but his baseline hitting was
The situation is truly like divine help.
On the one hand, his offensive touch is sharp and smooth enough, and he grasps the timing of the entire batting very accurately. He can often create a sense of rhythm for his offense through the misalignment of timing - either early or late, and use his power to
Take advantage of it.
It may not be visible to the audience, but it is very troublesome for the defensive side because it will interfere with their defensive predictions.
On the other hand, it is his defensive success rate. Although the success rate is still not high, the increase in success rate means putting pressure on the opponent's offense, forcing the opponent to attack one more time, and may need to be more tricky and more precise.
It is remote, and if you are not careful, you may make mistakes during continuous attacks.
It is precisely because of the improvement in the quality of baseline shots that Cilic's game does not need to rely entirely on his own serve like Isner. Even if the serve cannot form effective suppression, his baseline shots are not afraid, which is also very important.
It relieves the pressure of serving to a great extent and indirectly improves the power of serving.
Naturally, the impact of the serve is more direct and distinct.
Why do you say this way?
Just look at Cilic’s statistics against Federer in the semifinals:
Cilic's first-serve success rate is only 56%, which also means that his first-server firepower is actually not strong; but his first-server scoring rate can reach 87%, which is a very, very good statistic, which means that he
The first serve can create a threat and then beat Federer through the baseline.
Defeat Federer with offense, just like Del Potro in 2009. This is Cilic's state at this year's US Open.
Today, the same is true when facing Gawain.
Cilic's attack was as powerful as Kei Nishikori's in the quarter-finals, and he had a lot of amazing shots, showing his amazing touch.
However, Gawain came prepared.
First, Gao Wen knew that Cilic was in a "super state" and that some offenses were just how to play, so he was more prepared on the defensive end.
Secondly, Gao Wen also knows that he cannot let Cilic go crazy, so he needs to break the rules and destroy Cilic's batting routine and take the initiative himself, because Cilic's biggest shortcoming is the "rules".
There are really not many changes, and the selection of routes and landing points are all stuck to habits, so Gao Wen needs to be the first to break the routine and reverse the situation.
Just like the beginning.
Cilic's attack is sharp, while Gawain's strategy is endless, so the contest between the two sides is a close-quarters battle of suppression and counter-suppression. Judging from the results:
Gawain is slightly better.
The second half of the first set was uneventful. Gao Wen failed to get the break point, but Cilic also failed to get it. The two sides just guaranteed each other's serve. After Gao Wen scored four straight points to maintain serve to win the set, the third
One set of victory has already fallen into Gawain's pocket.
"6:3".
By taking the lead in the opening stage and breaking serve, Gao Wen took the lead and won the first set, seizing the opportunity in this championship battle.
In the second set, Cilic took the lead in serving, and the two players were still inextricably tied. Although with fluctuations in physical strength, both sides' serves became loose, and break points appeared again; but at the critical moment, the serving side was still able to stand up quickly.
Keep your footing to save the break point and continue to maintain the balance.
"4:4".
Since Gao Wen broke Cilic's first serve in the opening game, both players have held eight service games each, and neither one has been able to break the balance. The calm game is actually a bit... dull.
It's not that the two players didn't work hard enough, but they lacked the moment when Jokovic and Federer looked for changes to impact the game in the semifinals, and the confrontation between the two players also lacked a spark.
No wonder!
People always say that the most exciting games are not the finals, but the quarter-finals and semi-finals, just like the World Cup; and the chance of the finals becoming the pinnacle showdown is too small.
It’s just that in recent years, tennis audiences have been whetted by the “Big Four” Huashan sword debate. At this time, watching the contest between the two dark horse young players is naturally unsatisfactory, and even the Chinese fans are a little distracted.
However, if any fans at the scene start yawning and playing with their mobile phones, they may miss the wonderful moment——
Gawain has been observing and looking for opportunities.
He knew that Cilic was in good condition, but today Cilic's serve never found the rhythm under the continuous impact of Gao Wen, and the first serve came and went. Although he did not watch the game statistics to know the exact number, the success rate of the first serve should be in
About 50%, which also means that in the baseline round ball confrontation, both sides have opportunities.
Therefore, Gawain has been trying, he just needs a "turning point", such as——
"...Wipe the net!"
"For this goal, Gawain's return hit the net a little bit, changing the bouncing rules. Cilic's handling was a little rough, and he hit the return directly into the stands."
"Gao Wen raised his hand and gestured to Cilic to express his apology. Obviously this brushing was an accident."
"However, this accidental net collision allowed Gao Wen to take a '15:30' lead in Cilic's serve."
Accidents are unavoidable in net cleaning, tennis, table tennis, badminton, volleyball and other sports. Luck is the only explanation, but what does this have to do with chance?