Chapter 915: The Inflection Point of the Competition
Chapter 915 The turning point of the game
"Set, height, '7:6', '6:7', '6:3'."
In the third set, the outcome was decided.
At the end of the set, Gao Wen sent out a wave of eight-point climax, and used a "love-game" to keep his serve and win the set, which was the turning point.
Then, the big score exceeded again, "2:1".
If the first and second sets are stalemate or tangled, the outcome is just one point away. Both Gawain and Murray have a chance, it all depends on who performs better in key points.
So, Murray's sudden "disconnection" at the end of the third set was puzzling; and don't forget that Murray had the upper hand in the first half, so what on earth is going on?
Extremely physical?
But the problem is that a common characteristic of the four giants is that even if they are extremely physical, the quality of their games can still be maintained at a high level.
Look at the women's competition, there are many three-set scores like "0:6", "6:1", and "1:6". One of the reasons is the chain impact of extreme physical strength, which leads to a roller coaster ride.
The score is astonishing.
Although the scores in men's matches may not be so exaggerated and disparate, it is also very common for the quality of matches to plummet under extreme physical conditions.
However, players who have been ranked in the top 30 in the world for many years will not. Their status is often relatively stable; while the fluctuations of the Big Four are more restrained.
So, what happened to Murray?
Could it be that... after returning from injury, the impact of physical reserves still exists objectively?
Just like the second half of last year, after running all the way and playing full attendance, I ended up facing serious physical problems on the stage of the year-end finals in London, and finally collapsed.
Perhaps, this is the best explanation, but the specific situation can only be known by asking the players, and then we have to wait until the post-match press conference.
As of now, hope is not extinguished.
After all, Murray also grabbed a set from Gawain. He has done it once, so he can do it again, right?
The fourth set is a new beginning.
However--
A bad start.
"0:2".
Murray is in front, Gawain is behind.
In the fourth set, Murray took the lead in serving, but encountered extreme physical difficulties. Murray failed to score on the first serve, and there was not a single serve in this game. At the same time, the weak second serve encountered the strong wind and rain.
Hit and face a severe test.
A return serve was an ACE, and a strong return serve caused Murray to directly knock the ball away.
Then, Murray made a very untimely double fault, and finally Gawain completed the "love-game" break with a forehand winner.
At this point, Gao Wen had won 12 points in a row and continued the strong momentum at the end of the third set. He was indeed a bit unstoppable.
Rod Laver Arena is a bit dull.
Facing players other than the Big Four, Murray hadn't been so embarrassed for a long, long time. After he finally scored a point in Gao Wen's serve to break his opponent's consecutive scoring momentum, Murray vented his anger.
Roaring and roaring, releasing.
As if this is the breaking point, let out all your emotions.
It was really frustrating and depressing. Murray desperately needed this moment, otherwise he might explode.
However, Gao Wen remained unmoved and successfully maintained his serve, cashing in on his advantage of breaking serve first in the fourth set and opening up the score.
Immediately afterwards, Gao Wen continued to attack and once again created waves in Murray's serve and got a break point.
This time, Murray finally found his footing.
After four rounds of adjustments, his physical strength has eased slightly; at the same time, on a mental level, Murray also realized the importance of this round.
Got a break of serve?
Then it is possible to catch up at any time, and the score difference is not big. After all, in this set, Murray served first, and it was difficult for Gao Wen to open the score.
Got broken in two games?
In the men's game, it's very difficult, very, very, very difficult. It's basically equivalent to the whole game.
Murray must keep his serve.
Break point, draw.
Game point, draw.
Break point, draw.
The air became tense again. This game was almost like a match point contest. Both Gao Wen and Murray realized the importance of this game.
In fact, for Gao Wen, originally this game could be broken or not, and he already had the advantage anyway; but after he failed to break serve but accidentally formed a tug-of-war, the strategic significance of this game immediately became different.
Murray is now at a disadvantage, with sluggish momentum and on the verge of collapse. Once he saves multiple break points and successfully holds serve, it will be different.
If the momentum is rekindled, it may even burst out with more energy, and the mental and physical levels will be completely renewed. Then it is hard to say what will happen in the subsequent games.
Because Gao Wen broke serve too early and broke serve at the beginning of the fourth set, this also means that there is still room in the game and Murray still has many opportunities to catch up and go ahead. On the contrary, he may "over and over again, and again."
And three, three and all." Once the fourth set is lost and the final set is entered, it will be another story.
Therefore, this game must be broken.
The game is like this, changing rapidly, and the entire situation is changing all the time. Perhaps, the real turning point of victory or defeat has appeared quietly.
Back and forth, deadlocked.
Gao Wen missed two break points.
Murray missed four game points.
Then, the two players came to a tie for the seventh time, but still failed to break the deadlock. In a daze, they returned to the situation of the first two sets.
Glued, suffocated.
At the critical moment, Murray's second serve was caught by Gawain again.
a district.
Second shot, inside corner.
Murray tried to use the inside corner to restrict Gawain's backhand, but he failed to control the landing point well, and his speed and strength were seriously lacking, which exposed the opportunity.
Gawain's steps were very determined, he took a big step forward, followed the inertia of his body's step forward with his backhand, swung the racket forcefully, and pulled out a backslash.
Fast! Determined! Brave and fearless!
The entire movement is smooth and smooth, done in one go, free and graceful, like a dancing ballet dancer, and the smooth lines are wonderful.
The return ball hit the sideline on the right side of Murray and flew directly out. Murray staggered and flew out, but was unable to touch the tennis ball.
Return serve ACE!
Winning point, one more!
"oh!"
Not cheering or applauding.
The entire Rod Laver Arena let out strangled sighs, wails and exclamations of disappointment intertwined, even more lethal and destructive than boos——
Without the need for verbal explanation, you can clearly feel which player the fans are standing behind.
In the field of vision, you can see people covering their faces, looking up, looking like an ostrich, covering their chests, shoulders drooping and other different postures. A deep disappointment pervaded the whole place.
Obviously, they were not prepared to celebrate this wonderful winning point.
"ah!"
Gawain roared out.
"Ahhh!"
This time, Gawain was finally released.
It wasn't because he couldn't break serve, but because he was overwhelmed by the overwhelming pressure from the whole world; or because the situation in this game became sticky and entangled again, not at all as straightforward as it was from the end of the third set to the beginning of the fourth set.
Clean and straightforward, this also means that Murray will eventually slow down the pace of the game and enter the mode that Murray likes.
This is a challenge to Gawain's willpower——
The model that I spent a lot of effort to establish was disintegrated after just four games.
The Big Four are indeed the Big Four.
Gawain needs this kind of score, this kind of release.