Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 216 Another quarterfinal match, another defending champion
PS: There are only 6K left today, try to get more updates tomorrow!

……

The quarter-finalists of the four Grand Slams will receive a benefit. They can become lifelong members of the corresponding Grand Slam tournament and receive a small private room for free every year to watch the game.

Therefore, Chen Ran currently has the right to watch the Australian Open and French Open permanently for free.

It’s just that you need to bear the cost of the round trip. If a famous tennis player retires or is recovering from an injury, he may not waste so much time and energy just to enjoy the benefits of this membership, unless there are special circumstances.

Similarly, for Chen Ran at this moment, he didn't care at all whether he was a lifelong member or not.

His attention was focused on his opponent in this game, Spanish star Albert Costa.

If this was a hard court, Chen Ran would be confident that the fight would end within four or even three sets, but this is a clay court.

Although Chen Ran has adapted to clay courts and has become a true clay court master, his opponents are as familiar with clay courts as they are at home.

"This is our first fight!"

"I am the No. 4 seed, and he is the No. 8 seed? The seed order doesn't mean anything!"

While Chen Ran was waiting to play, he was also interviewed by reporter Zhou Yuan from "Sports Weekly".

"Chen Ran, this is your first clay court season and your first time competing in Roland Garros. Did you expect your current performance?"

"Especially since you are now listed as the No. 2 favorite to win the championship, and your popularity even exceeds that of your opponent, the defending champion Costa."

Chen Ran pondered for a moment. He knew that today's interview would be transmitted back to China as soon as possible, so he was thinking about how to answer.

"You know, I've been carrying a lot of pressure. Of course, these pressures also become the motivation for me to keep moving forward."

"This is indeed my first clay court season, but I don't want to be a partial player. I am not here to travel, but to prove that we Asian players can also achieve good results on clay courts."

"Of course, Costa is the defending champion and I respect him very much. In today's game, I am a challenger!"

Chen Ran's answer was that on the one hand he showed confidence in his own strength, and on the other hand he praised his opponents. This is his usual way of speaking.

"The time of this game is quite friendly. It's almost 6 o'clock in the evening in China. There must be many viewers watching this showdown."

"I know! The game has reached the quarter-finals, and I hope everyone can cheer for me. I know some fans like nightlife and go to nightclubs to be cool, but I can tolerate it for the time being tonight."

"I believe today's game will be more exciting than the girls in the nightclub."

"..." Zhou Yuan blinked his eyes and opened his mouth slightly in a daze.

Is it really okay to say this?
And do I really want to write the interview into the newspaper?
Fortunately, this is 2003, and everyone's speech is still very free. This kind of ridiculing words is still very easy to attract attention.

Chen Ran obviously hopes to use this interview to attract more viewers to the TV.

However, he knew that if this was said in 2020, some boxers would take notice and make trouble.

I love this turn of the century so much.

"I also believe that today's game will set a new ratings record!" Zhou Yuan said with certainty, "It is also the quarter-finals, and we are also facing the defending champion. What's more, this is not a cold winter, but a hot early summer! "

When Chen Ran once again stood in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam, people would naturally think of the Australian Open match five months ago.

Because Chen Ran chose to withdraw medically before the start of the semi-finals, the highest stage that Chinese players, and even Asian players can stand on, is the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament.

Chen Ran is back, standing on this stage again, challenging for the top four seats.

……

The Roland Garros center court was packed for the first time today.

The second quarter-final game even attracted more attention than Agassi's first game.

A super rising star from China and the defending champion of the French Open. Just this title is extremely sensational.

The number of reporters who flocked to the event reached more than 300, and the entire media gallery was packed to capacity.

Celebrities from France and even Europe were also sitting in the boxes, ready to enjoy the game.

After all, when the competition reaches the quarter-finals, it is important enough to attract the attention of celebrities, and it can also become a topic of chat among their circles of friends.

This game can only be described as highly anticipated.

When the defending champion Costa came on the stage, screams and cheers, applause and shouts gathered together.

In the end, it turned into a stormy sea, and even the host's voice was completely drowned.

However, Chen Ran showed a blank expression on all this, as if the noisy stadium had nothing to do with him.

It was the first time that he and Costa played against each other. The two shook hands very friendly, but their expressions were extremely serious, and they were obviously determined to win today.

Having reached this stage, anyone wants to go further...

call……

Chen Ran paused, inhaled, and then exhaled again.

He then lowered his head slightly and looked at the yellow-green tennis ball in his hand.

Not bad luck, Chen Ran got the right to serve first today.

Chen Ran took a long, deep breath and tried his best to suppress his excitement and excitement, but his blood was still boiling uncontrollably.This is the second time to challenge the defending champion in a Grand Slam. How can this not make people excited?

Not long ago, Chen Ran complained that he was surrounded by Spaniards.

But an indisputable fact is that from Moya in the past, to Costa last year, to Ferrero now, and Nadal in the future.

The dominance of these Spaniards over the French Open is terrifying, just like this clay-court Grand Slam tournament was specially set up by the French for the Spaniards.

So it is very likely that if Chen Ran wants to make a difference on clay courts, he will have to compete with generations of Spanish players.

This is like the evergreen Swedish table tennis player Waldner, who also played against several generations of Chinese table tennis players.

Tsai Ping-pong has gone from being an athlete to a coach, and even the chairman of the Table Tennis Association, and this guy is still playing.

"Will I do the same?"

Chen Ran patted the ball slowly, glanced at Moya, Ferrero, and Nadal in the audience, and suddenly remembered that it must be the newly born Alcaraz.

Then I will set a small goal.

I hope that after Alcaraz enters professional tennis, he will still play tennis.

The battle between Chen Ran and the defending French Open champion has officially begun!

"Viewers, welcome to CCTV5!"

"Chen Ran once again stood on the stage of the Grand Slam quarter-finals. I hope he can continue his good luck at the Australian Open!"

Today, the host of C5 Sports is still Zhan Jun. He even turned down a football match to explain today's game.

At the same time, they also invited Sun Jinfang, director of the Tennis Management Center.

"Now the game has started. This is the first time the two sides have met, so they should choose to test each other first."

"Good shot!" Zhan Jun roared, "It seems that Chen Ran was not ready to test the opponent's strength, so he launched a fierce attack at the beginning!"

In Chen Ran's first serving game, he completed a beautiful "love game" with his sharp serve and fierce attack!
He's like a microwave, getting into the groove right away without even needing any warm-up.

applause!

shout!
Chen Ran started waving towards the stands where Chinese fans gathered!
"Hehe, it seems that Chen Ran is very excited today!"

"It's no wonder! At the Australian Open, Chen Ran finally made it to the semi-finals, but he withdrew from a big stage like the semi-finals due to injury. This is really a pity."

"He wants to make up for his regrets at the French Open!"

"What's more, in terms of history, influence, popularity, etc., the French Open, which is also a Grand Slam tournament, surpasses the Australian Open."

“Roland Garros is famous around the world!”

Zhan Jun said excitedly, introducing the origin of this stadium to the audience.

"Break point!"

"Chen Ran is as powerful as a rainbow!"

40:AD.

This is the score of the second game!
Chen Ran was once behind 15-40 in Costa's service game, but he scored three points in a row, came from behind, and actually got the break point first.

He stepped on the soft clay court with his feet, kept jumping lightly, and then deliberately moved a few steps behind the baseline.

Psychological warfare is also part of the game.

Chen Ran wanted to use this to put some pressure on Costa.

Costa's two-handed backhand is solid and steady. Like a long sword unsheathed, he can often hit a straight line and penetrate into the blind corner on the opposite side of the court.

boom!
Another heavy-handed serve fell directly into the outside corner of the second zone.

Chen Ran lightly kicked the red soil on the soles of his feet, and his whole body rushed out like an arrow. He held the backhand tightly with both hands, and used the huge momentum of the tennis ball to push the ball back.

The tennis ball falls slowly along a full parabola.Its position is in the opponent's second zone, almost pressing the sideline.

Da Da Da~
Costa immediately started his body, ran over quickly, and hit the ball hard.

Chen Ran's return of serve has a good angle, but the landing point is not deep and the speed is a bit slow.

Costa directly took the ball from a wide angle, targeting the second zone in the opposite half.

Chen Ran reacted quickly and immediately started running at full speed, rushing over like a leopard.

He kicked off the ground and then made a beautiful slide. His feet left two long traces on the clay court.

Then, turn and swing the racket, like whipping a whip.

boom!
The tennis ball that was flying towards him was pushed back by Chen Ran.

This is a straight line and also a dead end.

Winning points!
Chen Ran beautifully broke serve in the opponent's first serve!
……

(End of this chapter)