The entire Rod Laver Arena was silent. Everyone held their breath and stared at the tennis ball flying back and forth on the court.
The baseline round has reached the twenty-fifth shot, but there is still no winner, and it is another long round of multi-shot see-saw.
As expected before the game, this was a very tough, very close and very difficult game.
Both Gao Wen and Murray showed good competitive status, especially the ability to switch offense and defense in baseline shots. Even in extremely passive and extremely dangerous extreme situations, they can often turn the situation around with one high-quality shot. This also shows that today's
The core of the top level in men’s tennis——
Relying solely on offense or defense, relying solely on one skill, can indeed occupy a place, but if you want to break the blockade of the Big Four, then the ability to switch freely between offense and defense is the key, especially in the Grand Slam, which is a five-set best-of-three system.
The competition is even more so.
At least, that's the case on the technical side, but the psychological side is another story.
This is also the progressive development direction of professional tennis in the era of the Big Four.
For a long time, the duel between Federer and Nadal was generally regarded as a "contradictory battle", with extreme offense and extreme defense.
But with the rise of Djokovic and Murray, Federer and Nadal are also constantly improving and improving, gradually polishing their shortcomings, and step by step, the comprehensiveness and fluency of baseline shots have also improved.
A level, and finally developed to what it is now.
Watching the games of the Big Four, the timing of transitions between offense and defense, batting methods, opportunities to seize, etc., are all top-notch among the best.
Murray is obviously no exception.
As Dimitrov said, Murray has indeed completely recovered from his injuries. Compared with Valencia last year, the thickness and texture of the entire defensive return have been significantly improved.
Naturally, this also increases the pressure on Gao Wen on both the offensive and defensive ends, and tactical layout also needs to take this variable into consideration.
Murray's shots often look staggering. They don't have the calmness of Djokovic, the heaviness of Nadal, or the inspiration of Federer. They seem to have no characteristics, so that ordinary viewers can't understand them at all, and they can't understand them.
Why mediocre batting can score points.
Especially when it comes to defensive hitting, it is basically the norm for Murray to run all over the court with his center of gravity unbalanced.
But the truth is, it's definitely not that simple.
Murray's defensive shots are often planned or purposeful. Even if they are extremely passive and conditioned shots, he will complete the idea during the movement or at the moment of hitting the ball, and then complete his subsequent shots.
Lay the groundwork and look for opportunities to reverse the situation.
He has always had his own unique inspiration in batting style, batting lines and batting options to limit the opponent's continuous attacks.
To put it simply, he knows how to make his opponents uncomfortable, and seemingly ordinary shots can often make it more difficult for his opponents to handle.
Of course, players are ordinary people, and not every layout, every plan, and every shot can be made at will. It is precisely because of this that Murray's frustration in the game often does not come from the opponent playing too hard.
Good, but my plan was not implemented accurately.
What's more, tennis is a confrontational sport of interaction, confrontation, and game. The opponent is always an indispensable and vital part of the game; then, the opponent's response, thoughts, inspiration, style, etc., will also inevitably become
A variable factor that can never be determined.
Murray is good at layout.
Gawain is good at breaking situations.
At the same time, both Murray and Gawain are good at finding opportunities, adjusting tactics, and reversing the situation in chaotic situations.
The only difference is that Gawain is more aggressive, more daring to take action at critical moments, more daring to take risks, and daring to break the balance.
However, "risk" is a variable that is always floating but cannot be accurately predicted. The greater the risk, the greater the benefits and risks.
From the pre-match analysis, we can predict how anxious this match will be.
This is also true.
Both players are fully prepared for this game. Murray knows Gao Wen's impact, and Gao Wen knows Murray's control. The game of back and forth should last throughout the game——
If you want to rely on one set of tactics to win the game, it is impossible for either Murray or Gao Wen, they must adapt to changes.
In the first set, "7:6(9)", Gao Wen won.
From the first game and the first point of the game, you can deeply feel the desire of the two players for victory and the desire to compete. They are absolutely full of motivation.
Throughout the first set, both players had very strong control over their serve. Break points did not appear often, and it was difficult to cash in:
Gawain:0/1
Murray:0/3
In the first set, the two players combined for a total of four break points, and the break success rate was 0%. Neither player was able to seize the opportunity.
Then, it was a stalemate all the way to the tiebreaker.
After entering the tie-break, the balance was still not broken. After Gao Wen took the lead to complete a mini-break, Murray successfully broke back immediately. The gap between the two sides still did not widen, and they exchanged venues three times in a stalemate.
"9:9".
The two players staged a good show of taking each other's points and saving each other's points, but neither one was able to win.
In the end, Gao Wen dared to take action. On the third set point, he relied on a forehand straight attack to get the winning point and won the first set.
The whole place was agitated.
No one expected that Gao Wen's performance in this year's Australian Open without losing a set would actually continue! At the critical moment, he once again showed his big heart!
The first set alone lasted seventy-four minutes.
It is precisely because of this that when entering the second set, both players showed signs of physical decline, and their control over the serve was obviously weak.
Murray, on his fifth break point, finally took the lead in breaking Gawain's serve and took the lead.
Gao Wen, showing high efficiency, seized the opportunity at his second break point and returned to the balance in the second set.
The stalemate between you and me is still going on.
Just like this moment.
Thirty-two shots!
The stalemate lasted until the 32nd shot. Murray defended Gao Wen's straight forward forehand attack and tapped the backhand with both hands in an extremely passive defensive state.
Straight line, return kick.
Oops!
Gawain's prediction is a slash.
The foot that was moving laterally to the left suddenly stopped and turned around to save the ball, but as soon as the foot hit the ground, it was obvious that the knee lacked strength.
When the physical strength is reduced, the steps of emergency braking and emergency starting are often unable to keep up with the strength, and the pedaling is unable to continue, which subsequently affects the ball.
The power of Gawain's forehand swing failed to keep up, and he was able to save the ball. However, before touching the ball, he realized that Murray's shot was very smart, and deliberately chose to hit it lightly with reduced force, resulting in Gawain not being able to catch the ball.
He tried to use his strength to swing his arms faster, but there was no time.
then--
J.
Murray scores.
And with this point, the second set victory has been decided, and it belongs to Murray.