Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 321 2004, the year of the big exam!

There is a sixty-fourth chance, is this really not a sign?

This is a question that many journalists have from the bottom of their hearts.

Some even questioned whether it is necessary to put the duel between Chen Ran and Safin in the first round?

No matter who leaves so early, it is a loss to the Australian Open. I really don’t know what the organizing committee is thinking.

If you say this is purely a fortune-telling, no one will believe it.

Last year, Chen Ran participated as a newcomer. If the luck of the draw was not good, it might still be possible.

But he is clearly the No. 1 seed now.

On the other side, Safin and his coach also sat quietly on their chairs, sometimes touching their noses and showing helplessness.

Is this how the Australian Open organizing committee welcomes his return?

Safin seemed to be in a bad mood. After getting up, he politely declined interviews from all reporters and left.

As a result, most people focused their attention on Chen Ran and wanted to ask him what he thought.

The dignified No. 1 seed was treated like this.

Chen Ran's reply was somewhat intriguing: "Perhaps I will enjoy the treatment of away games around the world for a long time in the future."

In her previous life, Li Na was also a two-time Grand Slam champion, but she had always had good luck at the Australian Open. The Australian Open organizing committee would always give her some care for the sake of ratings or the Chinese market.

But Chen Ran was different. He was targeted when he participated in the Australian Open the following year.

Because he is the youngest number one in the world and the number one at the end of the year, he has begun to subvert the entire men's professional tennis world, making the opponent feel a strong sense of crisis.

"Safin is the former world number one and a Grand Slam winner. I look forward to playing against him at the Australian Open. I hope that both of us will perform well."

"In addition, I am happy that from now on, I am no longer fighting alone in China Tennis. Li Na of the women's tennis team has successfully passed the qualifying round and won a main draw spot."

"I hope everyone can also pay more attention to women's tennis in our country."

Compared to Safin, who looked serious just now, Chen Ran looked relaxed.

After all, the opponent had just returned from injury, but he was in excellent condition.

Under normal circumstances, the outside world is definitely optimistic that Chen Ran will pass the first round, but of course there are some variables.

From another perspective, rather than saying that the Australian Open organizing committee is targeting Chen Ran, it is better to say that they are targeting Safin, allowing the newly comeback tennis star to encounter his strongest opponent in the first match.

"How effective is your winter training? The outside world still doesn't know where you went for winter training?" a reporter from CCTV asked eagerly.

"A very quiet European town, the effect is very good." Chen Ran thought of that charming and fragrant memory and smiled meaningfully, but the reporters were confused.

Isn't it just winter training? Why are you smiling so happily?

At this moment, compared to Chen Ran who was surrounded by reporters, another female player from China, Li Na, was much more disappointed. There was no one around her and she looked very deserted.

Although Chen Ran asked the reporters to pay more attention to the female tennis players, these guys seemed disinterested and did not show much interest.

Isn’t it the main draw of a Grand Slam? Not to mention that there is no chance of winning the championship, even the possibility of the top 8 is very slim, so what is there to pay attention to?

Because of Chen Ran, the Chinese audience's level of appreciation for tennis has been greatly improved, and ordinary results are simply out of their sight.

Not far away, Li Na, who saw Chen Ran being surrounded by everyone and no one paying attention to her, could not help but clenched her fists, her eyes showing perseverance, and secretly told herself that she must achieve results and stand out.

At this time, she suddenly regretted her impulsive choice to retire in 2002, otherwise she would have had the opportunity to participate in the four Grand Slams last year.

However, the leader at that time was indeed not as easy to talk to as Sun Jinfang today, at least he had a good temper with her.

In addition, due to the emergence of Chen Ran, everyone's enthusiasm for tennis is increasing day by day, and sponsors are also coming in an endless stream.

Therefore, the Tennis Association has enough funds to support these players to compete around the world.

At present, Li Na is also a player in the system. Although she is a member of the national team like Chen Ran, the latter is responsible for her own profits and losses after all, and is completely free and not restricted by the association.

In comparison, many of the competitions she participated in required organizational approval.

"Sooner or later, I will be like Chen Ran!" Li Na secretly encouraged herself.

……

When Chen Ran returned to the hotel, he looked at each other and his coach Zhang Depei, and then both of them laughed bitterly.

"Coach, if I had only achieved one achievement between being No. 1 in the world and winning two Grand Slams this year, maybe I wouldn't be targeted like this."

“It might even be possible to be taken care of.”

He said slowly and calmly.

"That's the theory." Zhang Depei nodded in agreement. "When you become the target of public criticism, you will naturally receive special care from them. They need to make the tennis match more suspenseful, instead of turning it into a table tennis match."

"By the way, table tennis evolved from tennis, so it's normal to have such worries."

Chen Ran shrugged and said nothing.

In tennis, there may be a certain player who will remain prosperous and dominate the tennis world for more than ten years, but it is absolutely impossible for a country's tennis to remain prosperous and have dominant players appear in every period. Table tennis club.

Zhang Depei continued to talk to himself: "I have observed that whether it is Federer or Roddick, their fortunes are much better than yours. At least the top eight will not encounter real challenges. Of course, Daman Consistent games will never lack upsets." "Okay..." Chen Ran clapped his hands, "But now is not the time for me to care about other people's fortunes. Theoretically, my fortune is the most likely to explode. Unpopular."

"Yes, now our attention should be on Safin."

Zhang Depei nodded: "I have played against him several times, and I have to admit that this guy's talent is really outstanding. Of course, he has a hot temper and poor emotional control."

Chen Ran suddenly shook his head: "Coach... Safin has almost disappeared from the court for almost a year. I don't think we can look at him with the same eyes as before."

"what do you mean……"

"I met him on the training ground and talked for a while." Chen Ran paused, "To be precise, I think he is too mature."

"Mature..."

Zhang Depei was stunned, then swallowed.

Why does it always sound weird when a young man under the age of 18 praises a 24-year-old adult man for his maturity?

However, he did not refute, but said: "So you think Safin now is different from Safin in 2002 or even longer."

"I think so!" Chen Ran's tone was very certain.

In his previous life, Safin would not have achieved such an impressive record if he had not transformed after his comeback in 2004.

Roddick seems to be different from his previous life, but what about Safin?

He is not very old, only one year older than Federer.

Chen Ran also doesn’t know where his appearance will take the men’s professional tennis world.

Early the next morning, Chen Ran and Li Na trained together, and Sun Jinfang, director of the Tennis Management Center, also came to watch.

Director Sun looked worried.

2004 is another Olympic year.

For any manager in the Chinese sports system, the Olympic year is a big test.

Similarly, China Tennis also has a long way to go.

Even though Chen Ran is a two-time Grand Slam winner and the year-end number one, this does not mean that he can definitely win the Olympic gold medal.

You must know that even if the table tennis team attacks with double insurance, they are not reassured.

The International Tennis Federation stipulates that a maximum of four players from a country can participate in the singles event of Olympic tennis, but the ITTF stipulates that a maximum of two players from a country can participate in the singles event of table tennis.

The reason is that the former know that the competition in tennis is fierce enough and they don't have to worry about one company being dominant; while the latter know that if table tennis also has four quotas, then the top four are most likely to be from the same country, and the sport will be ruined.

"Good shot!" Director Sun clapped his hands and shouted.

Li Na just rushed to the net and hit a beautiful shot with her racket, which went straight into the blind corner.

Chen Ran also gave a thumbs up.

The opponent has indeed improved, and is almost a completely different person than he was half a year ago.

At 22 years old and with no major injuries, he is indeed growing up quickly.

The most important thing is that Li Na is no longer a pioneer, but there is already a leader like Chen Ran in front of her.

"Sister Na, what is your goal for this Australian Open?"

"I don't know. I hope I can win one. This is a Grand Slam. I get very nervous when I think about it."

"Maybe you can go further than me." Chen Ran said humorously to himself.

Li Na had good luck in her draw and met an unseeded player in the first round.

"Safin has rested so much, he is definitely no match for you!" she said nonchalantly.

At this time, Director Sun came over and said earnestly: "I wish you both good luck in the Australian Open. In addition, this is also an Olympic year. We have a heavy task..."

After a pause, she turned to Chen Ran: "Xiao Chen, I know that the Grand Slam may be bigger than the Olympic Games in your mind. But China has its own special system and standards. From our perspective, in addition to the Football World Cup, The highest honor for any individual event is the Olympic Games."

"I understand!" Chen Ran nodded.

"You have achieved a lot of honors now, but there are still many people in the country talking about it and giving different opinions, especially those old stubborns in the eyes of netizens. What I want to say is that this year is an excellent opportunity for you to let those old stubborns in the country Shut up completely."

Chen Ran suddenly thought of his old coach Sergey.

He once told himself that the former Soviet Union or today's Russia and China also have similarities.

Russia is a tennis powerhouse, and Grand Slam champions are not rare for them.

So when many Russians hear you win a Grand Slam, they react indifferently, but when you win an Olympic gold medal, they give an excited thumbs up.

"For me, this year is the big exam!" Chen Ran replied.

……

(End of this chapter)