Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 322: Rematch one year later

On this day, Chen Ran has been practicing with Li Na.

Since Li Na is still a player in the system, she came to Australia accompanied by Tennis Association staff.

Her boyfriend Jiang Shan did not follow.

To be precise, Jiang Shan has not retired yet, but his strength is not enough to qualify for the Australian Open.

In fact, from Chen Ran's point of view, he hoped that someone could accompany Li Na to practice, and he could take the opportunity to escape.

Unlike now, Chen Ran had no choice but to train together out of face because they were both on the Chinese national tennis team.

10 minutes later…

As Chen Ran gradually enters the state, the strength gap between male and female tennis players becomes more and more obvious.

After a few stalemates between the two sides, Chen Ran quickly entered a crushing situation and easily resolved the battle.

Li Na looked up to the sky and sighed helplessly, watching the tennis ball flying into the sky, flying high and falling straight down. She raised her legs with some depression, used the tennis ball as a football, and made a volley.

Hmm...his footwork is still good, not inferior to that of the national football team.

"Oh, it seems there is still a lot of difference."

"I can't stand it, I really can't stand it."

"I thought I could hold on for at least seven beats, but I collapsed after only three beats."

Li Na seemed very frustrated. She also realized that once the other party became serious, she had no chance to fight.

She is now very sure that the reason why she was able to win a few goals before was because Chen Ran was not in the state, or was simply letting off steam.

"My coach always said that as long as I can beat male tennis players including Jiang Shan, I can gain a firm foothold in the WTA and even hit the top 10. But after playing against Chen Ran, I found that female players and male players are not the same at all. No need to fight."

Her current coach is still the head coach of the Chinese national team.

The opponent joked: "Chen Ran's strength must be different from others. If you can last a few games in his hands, you can basically sweep the WTA."

"Sister Na's strength is definitely sufficient in the WTA. She can also serve. At present, she still needs to improve her skills and tactical arrangements." Chen Ran said very frankly.

However, the head coach of the Chinese national team looked a little strange.

Indeed, tactical arrangement is the weakness of almost all Chinese players, which is also due to the low training level of the coach.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Ran shared some Grand Slam experiences with Li Na and how to adjust her mentality.

"Some people always say don't think of it as a Grand Slam tournament, just think of it as a regular tournament."

"But I don't agree with it."

“Isn’t it our dream to compete in a Grand Slam since we started playing tennis as kids?”

"When we are really standing on the stage of this dream, why should we deny it?"

"So this is not an ordinary match at all, but an important Grand Slam match. It is a stage for which you continue to work hard and fight, and finally stand on it."

"Let yourself be excited and excited, let your blood boil. This is the attitude you should have when entering the game."

"Also, to be a good player you have to learn to play under pressure, and the Grand Slams are the best stage to hone you."

Li Na tilted her head, thoughtfully.

After a long time, she said slowly: "What you said is different from what my previous coaches and leaders said, but it still makes sense."

Yes, I am clearly standing in the four majors, so why should I deny it and treat it as an ordinary game.

If that's the case, wouldn't all the previous efforts be in vain?

What's more, if it was just an ordinary tennis match, would she devote all her energy and enthusiasm to it?

I don't care about winning or losing.

After the training, Chen Ran packed up his packages, said goodbye to everyone, and left with the words "Good luck to the Australian Open!"

He believes that Li Na can carry the banner of Chinese women's tennis, because only in this way can the influence of tennis in mainland China continue to expand, allowing more and more young people to join the sport and create a future.

2004 was not only Chen Ran’s big exam year, but also the year from which he no longer fought alone.

……

Chen Ran VS Safin.

The first day of the Australian Open match day ushered in a focus match like Mars hitting the earth.

Judging from the press conference before the game, it was bustling and crowded, and it could even be said to be overwhelming.

It was so crowded that it was difficult to even find a place to stay.

Seeing such a lively scene, the Australian Open organizing committee also felt proud of its decision.

As the first event of the four Grand Slams, this is obviously a good start for the 2004 tennis season.

Obviously the Australian Open organizing committee also knows Chen Ran’s huge value.

Although they arranged a strong opponent like Safin for Chen Ran in the first round, they also gave him the highest treatment in arranging the pre-match press conference.

The location used by Chen Ran is the press conference room No. 1!

On the women's side, it's Serena Williams.

As for Roddick and Federer, they both had to go to the press room No. 2.

This is the honor that belongs exclusively to the No. 1 seed.

In addition to Chen Ran, the other two people who enjoy the treatment of Hall 1 are Hewitt and Philippoussis, because they are both native Australians.

For the majority of Australians, they really hope that a local player can finally win the Australian Open.

Of course, given the current trends in men's professional tennis, it seems unlikely. There were too many reporters asking questions at the scene, and all kinds of questions came one after another. Even Chinese reporters had a hard time grabbing the opportunity.

Although these problems were of no value to Chen Ran, he had to deal with them one by one.

"How does it feel to participate in the Australian Open for the second time?"

"Are you confident that you can defeat Safin?"

"Is your goal this time the championship?"

"Did you ever expect to be eliminated in the first round?"

Someone even asked: "Chen, as more and more Chinese people buy houses and immigrate to Melbourne, do you also have this plan?"

"..." Chen Ran replied decisively, "No, never!"

Even if he has plans to buy a house in Melbourne, can this be known to reporters like you?

"I love my hometown of Dongzhou City, and I also enjoy life in the Magic City. Everything is fine there!"

These Western reporters were obviously digging a hole for Chen Ran to jump into, but unfortunately they didn't give him a chance.

Then Chen Ran's eyes moved, and then he stayed on the foreign reporter who just asked, "Have you ever thought about being eliminated in the first round?"

He smiled slightly: "Even if I am eliminated in the first round, it is not the end of the world. There is nothing to be ashamed of losing to Safin."

This press conference was in a state of excitement from beginning to end.

Finally, a Chinese reporter broke out of the encirclement and asked a question.

"Chen Ran, can you tell me who are the favorites to win this competition?"

"Federer, Roddick, Agassi, Ferrero, and Safin, my opponent in this match."

The whole audience exclaimed, and everyone was surprised by Chen Ran's unexpected answer.

"But why not you?" The reporter from China asked unwillingly and incomprehensively.

"As for where I am ranked, that is not my decision. It should be left to the fans to discuss. I will never interfere."

What Chen Ran said made the foreign reporters marvel, and they seemed to have less interest in continuing to entangle.

The other party is also very good at talking, and to be exact, he is very good at Tai Chi.

But as soon as Chen Ran saw that the interview time was up, he immediately stood up as if his chair was hot, and then left immediately without looking back, without even looking at the reporters.

If it weren't for the mandatory requirement from the Australian Open Organizing Committee, he wouldn't bother talking to these reporters.

The mission is accomplished, why don't you get out of the way quickly?

On the other side, in the No. 2 press conference room, Roddick also rubbed his forehead in great pain and walked out slowly.

Obviously, the No. 2 press conference room was also crowded, with countless reporters swarming in.

But because the press hall is smaller, everyone feels it is more crowded.

Shortly after the press conference, when Chen Ran was warming up, Zhang Depei found him excitedly.

"Chen, you are so awesome!"

"I just went to Safin's press conference."

"Safin has indeed become different from before."

"It seems that his explosive temper has improved a lot, and now he can control his emotions very well."

This was completely expected by Chen Ran, but it gave Zhang Depei an incredible feeling.

He really couldn't believe that this guy who seemed to be carrying a powder keg with him could change so much.

"His eyes, his thoughts, it seems that this year's experience has made him grow a lot."

"Chen... to be honest, this first round match is going to be intense."

"It doesn't matter!" Chen Ran shook his hand disapprovingly, "As fierce as it is, it doesn't matter even if it lasts five sets. I have observed that as long as you pass the first round, the opponents in the subsequent rounds will be weaker, and I will most likely Earn a spot directly into the quarterfinals.”

Of course, Chen Ran's goal is far beyond the top eight.

Two hours later, with all the fans watching, Chen Ran and Safin walked slowly from two players' tunnels, and thunderous applause suddenly broke out.

In any tennis tournament, the first round tickets are always the cheapest.

Chen Ran and Safin met in the first round, and the tickets the fans bought were still the first-round prices, which made everyone a little ecstatic.

It's like someone on the road collected an old piece of porcelain at a very cheap price, only to find out that it was an antique.

It was an unprepared surprise.

clap clap clap!

Orderly applause came.

In fact, the quality of the Australian Open audience is higher than that of the United States and France. They are relatively polite and will not boo indiscriminately.

At this time, Safin also looked at Chen Ran, showing very complicated emotions.

Meeting again a year later made him feel like he was in another world.

"I'm recovering well and my mentality is more mature."

"I have a chance!"

Safin felt full of fighting spirit.

……

(End of this chapter)