Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 320: Fuck me, right? Increase the intensity in the first round?

ATP's unique points rule means that if you don't play for a season, it means that no matter how many points you have, they will be cleared.

Of course, if a player misses the game for a long time due to injury or any other reason, you can use the protected ranking to participate without starting from the qualifying round again.

The difference is that players who participate in protected rankings cannot be listed as seeded players.

For example, Russian star Safin took a full year off after retiring from the Australian Open last year with an injury, and his world ranking has dropped to several hundred places.

So, he decisively used the protection ranking.

When Chen Ran was training on the court, he met the Russian Czar.

The two exchanged a friendly greeting.

In fact, Chen Ran and Safin are not familiar with each other at all. The two sides only met once at the Auckland Open last year.

That time, Safin, who was possessed by the movie king, obviously didn't try his best and lost to Chen Ran, and even smashed a racket.

From then on, for nearly a year, Chen Ran never met Safin again.

When they met again today, Safin felt as if he was in another world: Didn't I just take a year off? Why does it feel like the entire professional tennis world has been turned upside down and he no longer recognizes me.

When Safin played against Chen Ran last year, although he lost, he didn't take it seriously. He just felt that this was a young man with good potential.

How could he expect that in just one year, this young man would almost dominate the professional tennis world.

"Chen, last year I was basically recovering from my injuries, and I never had the chance to play against you. I hope I can do it this year." Safin joked with a smile.

Chen Ran also smiled: "Okay, Marat... After last year's Australian Open, I have basically played against all the famous players in professional tennis, except you."

"Haha! I don't think you will go to those low-level tours nowadays. I hope we can meet at the four majors."

"Four Grand Slams?" Chen Ran touched his forehead and murmured, "Are you participating in the Australian Open to protect your ranking? I hope we won't meet in the first few rounds."

"Of course, no famous player is willing to meet you in the first few rounds." Safin also said very cheerfully, "I have observed your game, your skills are very comprehensive, and your strength has improved greatly compared to when we played against each other. many."

"You are really a genius. You have been able to improve so much in just one year."

What Chen Ran admires very much about Safin is that this old man has a very upright character and always says what he says.

When Agassi was complacent about admitting to being infected with the virus in his "Autobiography", tennis kings including Federer and Nadal all remained silent about it.

Only the Russian Czar directly attacked Agassi and said that the ATP should cancel all the honors Agassi received while taking the virus.

At this moment, after a long period of patient recovery, Safin's injury seems to be recovering well.

Although Chen Ran did not practice with Safin, he also found that the moving figure and the state of hitting the ball seemed that Safin had returned to his peak state.

He knew very well that after returning from injury, Safin once reached the second glorious moment of his career.

According to the original timeline, Safin won a runner-up at this year's Australian Open, also announcing his successful return.

Also at next year's Australian Open, Safin is in brilliant form.

At that time, Federer was in his prime and was already being hailed as the next generation of tennis. After the Athens Olympics, he continued to win consecutive matches without losing a single match.

However, he eventually lost to Safin and stopped in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, who successfully won the 2005 Wimbledon.

Being defeated by injuries, squandering his talents, and finally staged the story of the return of the king, this is indeed very inspiring.

However, in this time and space, it is unclear whether Safin can repeat this scene. After all, because of Chen Ran's butterfly effect, the entire professional tennis world has been changed beyond recognition.

Chen Ran withdrew his gaze and continued to devote himself to training.

This time, the target of his training was Wawrinka, the younger brother from Switzerland.

Of course, this is also an arrangement from the agency, allowing these two tennis geniuses born in 85 to compete.

But this guy Wawrinka, whether in games or training, always wears those big flowery pants that people can't bear to look at.

Several times when this guy was serving, Chen Ran, who was originally focused, unconsciously wanted to look away, allowing Wawrinka to score directly with his serve.

Good guy, could it be said that large flower pants are also one of the opponent's tactics?

Chen Ran covered his forehead in pain.

No wonder Wawrinka's record at Wimbledon was not that good, because he had to wear white pants there instead of his beloved floral trousers.

Did any grumpy old man go up and rip off his flowery pants?

Chen Ran's eyes moved and glanced at Safin not far away, wondering in his heart: What would happen if these two people fought?

This guy Wawrinka was a little proud. He even lifted up his floral pants and shouted: "Chen, I know you are dissatisfied, but I always have the freedom to dress! I like to dress like this!"

He seemed to have discovered a secret.

The reason why he was able to defeat Chen Ran unexpectedly in the Rome Masters was because of his large flower pants.

Chen Ran seemed to see through Wawrinka's thoughts and replied: "Stanislas, I hope that every time we play against each other in the future, we will be at Wimbledon."

After hearing this, Wawrinka was speechless.

This guy is really sharp-tongued.

After all, at Wimbledon, he couldn't wear flowery pants, so he certainly couldn't affect Chen Ran.

"In addition, I can introduce you to come to China to make a movie. There is a role that will definitely suit you very well!"

"What role?"

"They are the kind of social youth who idle around every day and like to extort pocket money from children. They love to wear these pants."

"Chen Ran!" Wawrinka retorted angrily, "No matter what you say, I will continue to wear my floral pants!"

……

Soon, the 2004 Australian Open draw ceremony was held.

The top eight seeds are Chen Ran, Federer, Roddick, Agassi, Moya, Nalbandian, Grosjean, and Hewitt.

Safin, the former Grand Slam winner, signed up for this Australian Open with a protected ranking, but he is an unseeded player and is also known as the strongest player outside of the seeded players.

Chen Ran is the No. 1 seed and sits in the top half, while Federer enters the bottom half.

When the organizing committee fished out a small ball from the large crystal ball and slowly unfolded the small piece of paper inside, all the reporters in the audience exclaimed in unison.

Safin!

Chen Ran’s opponent in the first round turned out to be Russian Tsar Safin!

……

(End of this chapter)