Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 150 The people of American imperialism are more happy (please subscribe and try to get an update later)
But in any case, both Chen Ran and Zhang Depei must admit that in the "Sunshine Double Tournament", the influence of the Indian Wells Masters has exceeded that of the Miami Masters.

At the beginning of the "Sunshine Double", the two events were basically neck and neck.

But as time went by, the Miami Masters actually showed some decline.

For example, the venues are dilapidated, the scale has stagnated, and the equipment has not been updated for a long time. It is slowly showing its fatigue, and the development of the event has also slowed down.

However, the Indian Wells Masters is going against the wind. It not only actively promotes sponsorship funds, but also has a very clear and comprehensive plan.

Four large and medium-sized "grandstand courts" of different levels have been given a new look. The funds invested in updating equipment and services are almost as much as those of the four Grand Slams. Coupled with extremely generous bonuses, it has become the "first hard court Masters". the trend of.

Looking at the ATP tour events outside the four Grand Slams, if appearance fees are not included, the total prize money of Indian Wells tops the list.

The first place winner can take away a full US$63, and the runner-up can also receive US$35.

Even first-round players can get $1.

In this era before prices soar, such bonuses are extremely attractive to most players.

When Chen Ran and his team arrived at the hotel, the qualifying rounds for this tournament were already in full swing.

Players participating in the qualifying rounds of the four majors need to win three consecutive rounds to enter the main draw; however, the Masters is not much better. Players who are not selected for the main draw must win two consecutive qualifying rounds to enter the main draw.

The fitness coach Sergey yelled and joked: "Chen Ran, do you feel like you are in another world? After all, when you participated in the Australian Open more than a month ago, you had to play in the qualifying rounds."

"Yes, this feeling is not very real." Chen Ran also smiled.

More than a month ago, I was just like those qualifying players who were fighting for a spot in the main draw.

After entering the hotel room, the first thing Chen Ran did was to take a cold shower for himself.

Even in the spring season of March, as soon as he arrived in this small town, he felt a rolling heat wave hitting his face.

These days, perhaps in preparation for the arrival of the Masters, the sky is blue and the weather is surprisingly good.

Under the scorching sun, almost every cell in Chen Ran's body felt the heat and dryness in the air.

After taking a cold bath, Chen Ran finally felt a little better.

He lay motionless on the comfortable bed with his limbs spread out.

Perhaps feeling a little tired from the long journey, Chen Ran lay on the bed for a while and unknowingly entered a state of light sleep.

Suddenly, there was a sound outside the door, which woke Chen Ran up from his sleep.

He seemed to hear Zhang Depei's voice, and a very rough female voice.

"Michael, I didn't expect to see you here, how great!"

When Chen Ran opened the door, he saw a dark, muscular woman hugging Zhang Depei so fiercely that she could almost pick him up by the waist.

they know each other?

Zhang Depei’s English name is Michael Zhang.

Chen Ran felt a little sleepy and felt that this woman seemed familiar...

"Serena, please be gentle...my old bones are about to fall apart!" When the black girl picked up Zhang Depei and spun around in circles, the latter begged for mercy.

Isn’t this the famous American female tennis player Serena Williams?

Chen Ran finally had an impression.

Although Serena Williams won the women's singles championship at the just-concluded Australian Open, Chen Ran was so busy at the time and had to prepare for the game that she really didn't have the leisure to watch the women's game.

So he just observed it for a while before recalling some memories from his previous life and recognized this black girl as Serena Williams.

The physique is as strong as an ox. Although Serena Williams and Zhang Depei are both 1 meters tall, the difference in body shape between the two is too obvious.

Chen Ran even suspected that if Serena Williams really wanted to use force, Zhang Depei would probably have to give up resistance, close his eyes, and choose to endure it silently.

"Michael, why are you here?" Williams asked after putting Zhang Depei down.

"I'm a coach now, you should know my disciples." Zhang Depei took a few labored breaths.

At this time, the two of them finally noticed Chen Ran standing in a daze at the door.

"Oh God! Are you the Chinese boy who beat Agassi?" Serena Williams also immediately recognized Chen Ran.

Perhaps Chen Ran is not as well-known in the United States as Yao Ming, but in the American tennis circle, he is almost a household name. After all, this is a guy who has eliminated Roddick and Agassi one after another.

"Hello, Serena, nice to meet you!" Chen Ran greeted.

Thanks to Zhang Depei just now, Chen Ran knew the name of Serena Williams, otherwise it would be a bit embarrassing.

"Michael, are you Chen Ran's coach now?" Serena Williams asked in surprise.

"Yes." Zhang Depei said honestly, "I officially became Chen Ran's coach last week, and he took the initiative to invite me."

Serena Williams looked at Zhang Depei, then at Chen Ran, and then said: "This should be a good job. Maybe your disciple's achievements will surpass yours."

Tennis is an individual sport, and Americans are more accustomed to putting personal interests first.

Serena Williams' first reaction was not: Will such a perfect match pose a threat to American tennis?

Of course, for Americans who have always been confident and even arrogant, even if Chen Ran can win consecutively against Roddick and Agassi in the Australian Open, he still feels that this is just a nap in American tennis.

What's more, Serena Williams, who is only 22 years old now, already holds three Grand Slams, and her mentality is already different from the past.

The results of the US men's tennis?Never mind my business!

"Serena, do you live here too?" Zhang Depei thought of something.

Serena Williams pointed to her room generously, which happened to be opposite Chen Ran's room.

Why isn't the person living opposite me a golden flower from Eastern Europe?

"Did the organizing committee deliberately arrange it?" Chen Ran cursed in his mind, "Is this the Americans' revenge for eliminating Agassi and Roddick?"

For some reason he had a bad premonition.

"Michael, long time no see, welcome to visit us!" Williams waved to Zhang Depei and walked into her room with her luggage.Zhang Depei laughed a few times, and his expression showed that he was definitely not willing to visit.

"Coach, I didn't expect you to be so popular with female players."

Chen Ran gave Zhang Depei a thumbs up, then decisively closed the door and added a few locks to prevent anyone from visiting.

Zhang Debei was stunned for a while, and after regaining consciousness, he decisively closed the door and imitated Chen Ran and added a few locks.

……

In the small town of Indian Wells, you can hardly see buildings above three stories.

Your field of vision is almost flat, and you can see the horizon at a glance, faint and blurry.

Chen Ran brought the team to the training ground.

Along the way, I saw many fans coming and going, in small and small groups, in an endless stream.

On both sides of the road next to the court, many human-shaped billboards were added, all of which are well-known tennis players.

Every year, the tournament organizing committee will list the top [-] players in the world who are absent from the game, and fans can take photos with the billboards.

If the players participate, fans can take photos directly with real people, but if the players are absent, this is also a way of commemoration.

From this perspective, it is obvious that the organizing committee has given very thoughtful consideration, which will also help promote the event and promote fans.

In recent years, the development of the Indian Wells Masters has been in full swing. The popularity and prestige of the "Sunshine Double Crown" has become as famous as the four Grand Slams. Behind it is the promotion of the tournament organizing committee.

At the same time, they are now the most profitable tournament outside the four Grand Slams, and they also attract the utmost attention from all top players.

From a distance, Chen Ran saw a few familiar people, Agassi, Roddick, etc.

As native Americans, Agassi and Roddick are extremely popular and are surrounded by enthusiastic American fans.

In addition to these two local players, the most popular players are Hewitt, Feredo, and Safin.

Although Federer's world ranking has risen to third in the world, because he does not have the blessing of a Grand Slam champion, his popularity is obviously not as popular as these.

At this time, a young American fan saw Chen Ran and roared: "That Chinese boy, the one who eliminated Agassi and Roddick."

This shout broke the silence, and a group of young people swarmed in, holding notebooks and shouting for Chen Ran's autograph.

"By the way, what's the name of this Chinese guy?"

"I only know that he beat Agassi and Roddick, but I really don't know what his name is?"

"It seems his name is Yao?"

"Idiot!!! Yao Ming plays basketball and is with the Houston Rockets."

"Sorry, I remembered it wrong! The only celebrities in China whose names I can remember are Yao Ming and Jackie Chan."

"By the way, do you know where China is?"

"It should be on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, I'm sure of it!"

"Brother, you are so awesome. I thought China was in Europe!"

"Did the Chinese launch Pearl Harbor?"

"Wrong, it was the Vietnamese, and then there was the Vietnam War. We won the Vietnam War and World War II."

"Brother, you know everything!"

"so so!"

These stupid, stupid Americans

Chen Ran could also understand the conversations of these Americans, and he was speechless. He was worthy of being a "American imperial" people who grew up under a happy education.

Soon, Chen Ran was surrounded by enthusiastic American fans, cheering and jumping for him to sign autographs.

In the training ground, Chen Ran's popularity is second only to Agassi and Roddick.

The thinking of the people of the United States is very simple and honest. If Chen Ran beats the two most powerful players in their country, then he is a big star in the eyes of the people of the United States.

So, these Americans surrounded Chen Ran, asking for photos and autographs.

Tennis is a very popular sport in the United States and has a large group of fans.

After Chen Ran finally signed his name and prepared for training, there was a local fan about 20 years old who was eager to try and expressed that he wanted to compete with Chen Ran.

The American fan is nearly 1 meters tall and has a very strong body due to long-term fitness.

He felt that Chen Ran was ordinary and thought he could challenge professional players.

This guy proudly asked his companion: "If I beat this Chinese guy, does that mean I also beat Agassi and Roddick?"

Chen Ran looked at this scene with some confusion, recalling a piece of news he saw in his previous life.

At that time, an American sports forum conducted a survey, and the respondents were tennis enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 24.

71% of those surveyed believed they could win a match against a tennis professional.Even more interesting is that 47% of amateur players over the age of 55 also believe they can win games against professional players.

The American people are indeed confident!
After this result came out, many American professional tennis players collectively complained: Damn, this is simply retarded!

Although American men's tennis was in decline at that time and had not been able to win a Grand Slam for many years, it could not stand being so insulted by these amateurs.

"Chen Ran, teach him a lesson!"

At this time, even the American Roddick couldn't stand these amateurs, especially those who liked to teach him how to play.

I want you to teach me how to play ball?
"Chen, let them see the insurmountable gap between amateur players and professional players!"

……

(End of this chapter)