The limitations of the indoor space created waves of reverberation, and the sound of gasping for cold air was further amplified in the layers, causing billowing waves of air.
One second ago, the audience was still marveling at Berdych's one-handed backhand chip, which perfectly defused Gawain's attack and immediately turned the situation around.
The next second, the audience was amazed again. When Gawain lost his position in his steps and lost his body's center of gravity, he once again reversed the situation with a forehand shot.
The thrilling parabola is not a diagonal line, but a straight line; moreover, the high-speed rotating tennis ball flies towards the blind spot of the large triangle area of the bottom line.
Not only the audience, but the hearts of Sampras and Peart also stopped beating——
Gawain, you are so bold.
Such a passive defense, but through the control of the wrist and the drive of the forearm, he aimed to hit the ball deep in the bottom line. The tactical intention was to contain Berdych.
If the last shot of pressing the line and attacking proved that Gao Wen's confidence has returned; then this shot of defense aimed at the bottom line proves that Gao Wen's confidence has fully reached the state of the US Open.
Next, it depends on how you feel, and it may take a little bit of luck.
The whole audience stared with bated breath.
The time the tennis ball flew in the air was a little long. Not only did the audience collectively raise their heads, Berdych also kept adjusting his steps in small steps on the baseline, looking up at the falling trajectory of the tennis ball.
Then--
In!
Press the line! Dead corner!
The linesmen at the bottom line and the sideline both immediately made inbound gestures to confirm that Gao Wen's return ball was accurately placed in the blind spot.
He.
Unbelievable surprise and astonishment surged inside the stadium. First, Berdych, and then Gawain, both players hit the magic ball.
The situation has turned again.
But Berdych stood on the baseline and had no time to be shocked. After adjusting his steps continuously, he immediately stepped forward with his backhand and hit a diagonal line.
From this shot, it can be seen that Berdych is still a little soft:
Facing Gao Wen's accurate return ball in the blind corner, Berdych could actually choose to press the ball from the bottom line, but the risk was too great, so he chose the transition ball.
Just like Berdych's character.
However, Berdych's transition ball is also very particular.
First is the slash, then is the deep zone, and then is the topspin.
Berdych knew that without speed and strength, Gao Wen would definitely be able to catch up and complete the defense. Then, he would need to create problems for Gao Wen's defense.
In fact, this is exactly the case.
Gawain, running at full speed, that dark blue figure crossing the field like a tornado, completed a difficult shot with a backhand shot on his shoulders.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Tennis is back.
Obviously, in an extremely passive situation, Gawain had no room to change his line. The diagonal line was the only option, even though he knew that Berdych was waiting at the diagonal line.
Small steps, continuous small steps.
Berdych adjusted his steps very carefully, but he did not take the initiative to move forward. Instead, he stayed at the bottom line and waited for Gawain's return——
Sideways forehand.
Berdych had enough time, so he simply switched from backhand to forehand, like a fort that had been set up early.
Kick off the ground! Leap!
Swing the racket! Come out!
boom.
Berdych's whole body rose into the air, the weight of his body and the strength of his arms were all superimposed and released, and he launched his iconic forehand attack!
Bright sword!
Across the field!
In fact, explosive power is not Berdych's strong point, but the entire shot is very light and sharp, with full penetrating power.
Moreover, Berdych is not targeting the blind spot on the bottom line, but changing the line, relying on the opportunity of sideways forehand to completely maximize the hitting angle.
Whoosh.
The tennis ball just slipped into a halo of light, as if it had disappeared out of sight.
Danger. Danger Danger Danger!
The alarm in Gawain's mind completely sounded.
In fact, Gao Wen's footsteps have been staying on the spot, keeping his center of gravity flexible and not moving first, especially when he saw Berdych turning sideways and making a forehand:
The slash should indicate a high probability event.
After all, the force is released more smoothly, and the landing point and line are better controlled. This also means that Gao Wen only needs to wait where he is to wait for the ball to arrive.
However, when he saw Berdych's triggering action, Gao Wen immediately realized that something was wrong——
Berdych is an honest person, which is also reflected in the fact that his batting movements have no tricks and are very honest, so it is easy to judge the intention of the bat.
Of course, the premise is to maintain a high degree of concentration at all times in the ever-changing game, otherwise, each racquet lead and swing movement will only take the blink of an eye.
At this time, Gao Wen noticed Berdych's triggering action. In the case of sideways forehand, the whole body's backward adjustment obviously had the tactical intention of the sideline.
Oops!
With a reflex kick of his left leg, his body rushed out to the right, but then he realized that the flight path of the tennis ball was beyond his imagination.
Tap tap tap.
Tap tap tap!
From long strides to small steps, Gao Wen has completely integrated into the strong wind, and his steps have left the scope of the court and even rushed out of the doubles area.
ah!
Almost.
Still a little short of it!
The upper body is completely stretched out, and the center of gravity is already flying. I simply rush out according to the centrifugal force and let my body escape the shackles of gravity.
The forehand relies on the power of waist and abdominal rotation to push it forward. In a posture of looking back at the moon, the sight of the court can no longer see the spatial position of the court, so it can only rely on the feel of the hand.
Ahhhh!
Push your wrist forward and turn your arm outward!
In an instant, I held my breath and just allowed the force to explode in my muscles. My forearms swung rapidly, and the weight of my entire body was already added to it.
Buzz.
There was a buzzing sound in my ears, and all the light and shadow in the world had disappeared, leaving only that mustard-yellow stream of light.
next moment--
"……straight line!"
"incredible!"
"Gawain spelled out a straight 'outside-in' at the last moment!"
"The return ball hit Berdych's forehand baseline triangle directly, it was accurate!"
"Winning point!"
"God, oh, God, incredible!"
"Berdych has no chance, no chance at all! After turning sideways forehand, Berdych immediately moved towards the backhand to defend, but Gawain hit a backhand shot."
“Brilliant, truly brilliant!”
"From offense to defense, and then from defense to offense! This should be the shot with the most rounds in the first set between Gao Wen and Berdych. Both players have played to the extreme, showing their ability to see and compete with each other.
Not giving in even an inch, there are undercurrents of games, and there are also open and close confrontations.”
"But in the end, it was Gawain who was more courageous and tougher and won the point!"
“Break point cum count!”
"With this point, Gao Wen got the third break point of the first set, and it was also the first set point."
"Wow, this is just..."
boom!
The commentator's voice was instantly drowned out by the tsunami of applause and cheers from the audience, and the entire Accor Arena went crazy.
On the court.
Berdych couldn't believe his eyes, put his hands on his hips depressedly, and then lowered his head. No one could know what he was thinking.
Gawain, unexpectedly, did not celebrate grandly. Instead, he held the racket tightly with both hands and stood on the spot, panting like an ox. However, his determined eyes burst out with a belief in victory, and that bloody spirit came again.
A burst of energy.
Break point, got it!
But this is still not the end, the next point is equally important.
Obviously, the game has now reached a turning point, and the battle for momentum between Berdych and Gawain is gradually escalating and is continuing to reach the peak.
The whole place was shaken.
Although everyone knew that this duel would be exciting, and it might even be a year-end finals competition, they never expected that it would be so exciting. The air in the room was already burning, and it was as if you could hear the sound of blood boiling.
"Shh!"
Even without the referee's reminder, the audience spontaneously signaled everyone to quiet down, because both players had returned to the bottom line and were ready to continue fighting.