Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 297 New Internet hot word, advance to the finals

The brokerage company that controls a large amount of media resources is secretly adding fuel to the flames. In addition, Chen Ran and Faye Wong are both top figures in their respective cultural and sports circles. As soon as the news of this cooperation was exposed, it immediately became the headlines of major sports and entertainment media.

At the same time, Chinese people subconsciously like to compete with beautiful countries. They naturally compare the collaboration between Chen Ran and Faye Wong to the match made in heaven between Michael Jordan and Michael Jackson.

Chen Ran is obviously still participating in the competition, but the topics of reporters have long since stopped at the Heineken Open, and almost all of them are related to this single collaboration.

However, as Chen Ran successfully entered the top 8, according to the agreement between him and the tournament organizing committee, he has achieved the minimum goal and can receive the entire appearance fee of US$106 million.

But the organizing committee was also worried about what was going to happen, and they were afraid that Chen Ran would leave immediately after receiving the full appearance fee.

From their perspective, they naturally hope that Chen Ran can reach the finals.

"The most basic thing to talk about is credibility! If I just dodge someone like this, how can I take a long-term approach and lose big fish in the future?"

"Only when you show sufficient professionalism, you can slowly increase your appearance fee in the future."

Chen Ran's idea was simple and pure, and this was also the plan he made for himself.

In the quarter-finals, Chen Ran's condition continued to improve. With the cheers of the fans and the earnest attention of some leaders of the organizing committee, he eliminated the famous Swedish player Norman 4-1.

Norman had won the Magic City Heineken Open twice before, and this time he was ranked No. 8 seed, but was treated as a weakling by the Magic City Organizing Committee and assigned to Chen Ran.

But this is already the top 8, and it is normal for the No. 1 seed to meet the No. 8 seed.

However, not every high-seeded player has Chen Ran's professional qualities.

When the Chinese audience was also looking forward to the Sino-US battle between Chen Ran and Roddick in the final, Roddick decisively stepped aside after reaching the quarterfinals and receiving the full appearance fee.

This made many fans angry and yelled: Your professionalism is much worse than Chen Ran, curse you to always be the second best!

As for Roddick, he looked nonchalant and had already packed up his luggage and headed to the small house next door without stopping.

Unlike Chen Ran, he is preparing to participate in the ATP Tokyo 500, so even if he does not score many points in the Shanghai Open, it will not have much impact.

Just after the quarter-finals ended and a spot in the top four was locked, Chen Ran was surrounded by reporters from China.

Almost all the questions revolved around today's breaking news, and there were also a few questions about whether Chen Ran could win the championship in his debut on the local tour.

A mere championship in the 250 race no longer means much to Chen Ran today.

But a champion of China's local 250 tournament still has some special significance, whether it is for the promotion of tennis or for Chen Ran's own popularity, it has a positive effect.

This year's Heineken Open, as if agreed in advance, those high-ranking seeded players have failed.

After Roddick, another organizing committee paid a high price to invite Federer, who also stopped in the top 8.

As a result, Chen Ran was the only one left among the three major superstars who came to compete.

Analyzing from the book strength, it seems that the champion of this event, Chen Ran, is already a sure winner. The only variable is his condition.

From the analysis of the first three rounds, Chen Ran's state is obviously far different from that of the US Open.

"I'm still finding my game shape."

"After the US Open, I didn't touch a racket for two weeks."

"Fortunately, I feel better and better now!"

Facing the reporters surrounding him, Chen Ran spoke very frankly.

"Your opponent in the next round is Swedish teenager Soderling. There should be no big problem." The reporter from Shanghai TV Station continued to ask, "Everyone hopes that you can successfully enter the finals."

"I hope so, but it's a tough opponent and anything can happen on the tennis court and I need to be well prepared."

"Chen Ran, you and Faye Wong collaborated on a single, will you perform on the same stage in the future?"

"No..." Chen Ran denied it very firmly, "I won't. Because I'm not a professional singer, so there's no need to make a fool of myself. If I have to lip-sync on stage, I think it's pointless."

He obviously also wanted to take this opportunity to make an explanation, so he humorously laughed at himself: "The reason why I agreed to record a single is because my agency has promised to help me find a million-dollar sound engineer."

The term "million tuner" was invented by later generations of netizens to ridicule artists who were tone-deaf and had no singing talent but came up with singles to become singers and harvest fans.

That is to say, even if these guys have a recording studio, they still have to spend a lot of money to hire those gold medal tuners to make the songs they sing sound like a singer.

When Chen Ran was being interviewed, he didn't think much and just opened his mouth. However, those reporters who were delicate and sensitive caught it.

Millions of tuners?

Reporters vaguely felt that Chen Ran had created a new Internet buzzword after "licking the dog."

Wait, what did you mean by that sentence just now?

What does it mean that I am not a professional singer, so there is no need to lip-sync on stage?

Is this a satire on those artists who obviously can't sing but like to lip-sync on stage?

In addition, the term "millions of tuners" is really apt description.

How on earth did you figure it out?    Chen Ran’s first tour appearance this time, there is really too much news to report on and off the court.

Due to the very tight schedule, the semi-finals started immediately one day later.

Because of Chen Ran, the tickets for the semi-final he participated in were sold out again, even though the price had increased compared to a few days ago.

Swedish teenager Soderling, born in 1984, is only two years older than Chen Ran. He can be regarded as a rising star in men's professional tennis today.

This person was somewhat famous in his previous life, but one thing that is widely known is that he is ridiculed by many fans as "Federer's benefactor."

Because after the rise of Nadal, the "King of Clay", Federer has been suppressed by Nadal in the French Open and can only be ranked runner-up.

But at the 2009 French Open, Soderling successfully blocked Nadal and shattered his opponent's dream of winning five consecutive championships. Before that, Nadal had won 31 consecutive games at the French Open.

In the end, Soderling and Federer met in the French Open final and gave the latter the only French Open championship in his career.

Without the sudden rise of this young Swedish player, who is as powerful as Federer, his career would probably have been the same as Sampras's, missing the French Open, and thus unable to achieve the Grand Slam and regret it for the rest of his life.

Now Fei Tianwang's benefactor is only nineteen years old. Being able to reach the semi-finals on a tour stage filled with strong players is already considered an upset.

As luck would have it, the player Soderling eliminated in the quarter-finals happened to be Roger Federer.

The game lasted three sets, and it was very difficult for Soderling to win, but Chen Ran was waiting for work.

Obviously, the goddess of luck cannot always favor the Swedish teenager.

Chen Ran was cheered by more than 10,000 spectators in the audience, taking advantage of the right time, location, and people.

Facing the current world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner, Soderling tried his best, but to no avail.

Perhaps it was Chen Ran who completely controlled the rhythm of the game with his strength advantage, or perhaps it was because the last match with Federer was too exhausting. Soderling was obviously unable to do what he wanted under Chen Ran's sharp attack and airtight defense.

In just over an hour, he lost to Chen Ran 3-6 and 2-6.

Chen Ran successfully got a spot in the finals.

After four rounds, the first round was the most difficult.

It was also a big relief for the Shanghai tournament organizing committee.

Chen Ran finally entered the finals as he wished.

As for the finals, it would be better for Chen Ran to win, but even if they lose in the finals, it will not affect their ticket sales.

Tickets for the final are sure to sell out.

"Unstoppable! Chinese players have reached the finals of a local tournament for the first time!"

"Getting better! Who would have thought that Chen Ran's most difficult competition so far would be the first round."

"We are looking forward to the first championship of Chinese players in the local tour!"

After the game, many media reported on the game immediately, with high enthusiasm.

Looking back at the past four Heineken Opens, this year’s fifth one is undoubtedly the most lively and attracts the most attention from the audience.

The huge stadium has more than 10,000 seats, and the tickets have been sold out several times.

The organizing committee also knows that Chen Ran is the biggest contributor.

He successfully reached the finals this time, which also brought the popularity of the Heineken Open in Shanghai to an unprecedented level.

In the magical city with a huge population, crowds began to flock to the Qizhong Sports Center, and even the scalpers began to loom, appearing in every corner.

However, Chen Ran's opponent in the final should not be underestimated. The Australian star Philippe Siss is a famous serving player.

As for Philippoussis' wealthy girlfriend, she parted ways with him after the US Open. However, this guy was given a clean 3-0 by Roddick, which made the latter feel humiliated.

However, as one of the only players who has a record of winning against Chen Ran, Philippoussis is very confident that he can cause trouble for Chen Ran in the finals, and maybe even an upset.

He was looking forward to it and was honest about it in interviews with the media.

After all, Philippoussis defeated Chen Ran once at the Cincinnati Masters.

In addition to the upcoming finals, the term "millions of tuners" invented by Chen Ran has also become popular all over the Internet in just a few days.

Because for those netizens who like to join in the fun, it is obviously a very good choice to use this word to mock artists who they hate but also love to sing.

……

(End of this chapter)