Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 596 Who is the master of psychological warfare? (4K)

PS: Aka is awesome, he has won all four Grand Slam finals, with a 100% winning rate in the finals. However, like Nadal, Aka has not won a year-end championship yet.

……

Surprises often come suddenly and unexpectedly without any preparation.

Nadal was worrying about how to get his year-end ranking into the top two in the world, but found that he had achieved it so quickly.

Wawrinka is so awesome!

This guy actually achieved two consecutive wins over Federer in the Paris Masters and the Shanghai Year-End Finals.

No wonder this guy has already shouted a slogan. His target is not only the second brother of Switzerland, Federer’s younger brother.

It seems that he is indeed a guy who keeps his word.

Especially defeating the opponent in such an important game as the year-end semi-finals is of great significance.

This is much more important than the Masters, and is even no less important than the Grand Slam.

After all, before the game, many players, including Chen Ran, said that in their minds, the importance of the year-end finals is equivalent to that of the Grand Slam.

Indeed, as the prize money and appearance fees of the year-end finals continue to increase, its status among top players has also risen, and its importance has become equivalent to that of Grand Slam tournaments.

"In the year-end finals, you can't rely on luck. Whether you want to qualify from the group, reach the final, or even win the championship, you have to beat the top eight players in the world."

"In theory, it's even more difficult to win the year-end finals than the Grand Slam."

"So what is the real GOAT? Four Grand Slams + Olympics + year-end, you have to achieve all of the above, this is the most basic condition."

Chen Ran said this before the year-end finals.

"As for Mr. Tony's suggestion to hold the year-end finals on clay courts, I personally don't mind. To be fair and avoid gossip, I think the year-end finals should be held on hard courts, grass courts and clay courts in turn."

"I'm not a guy who takes advantage of others."

Chen Ran's last sentence was obviously a finishing move.

Killing someone is also destroying their heart.

Toni Nadal, you only asked for the year-end finals to be held on clay courts, but Chen Ran suggested that it be held alternately on hard courts, clay courts and grass courts.

This is the pattern of the world's number one person.

I won't be like you, demanding that the year-end finals be held only on the court where my nephew is best.

Chen Ran said this, and even Uncle Nadal, who was always rude, could not refute it.

You can't demand that the year-end finals be held only on clay and not allow it to be held on hard courts and grass courts.

Let's be fair and take turns once a year.

Of course, ATP said very painfully: The suggestion is good, but don’t suggest it next time.

They were also helpless: Chen Ran, why are you competing with that kind of lunatic?
Although the year-end finals have a history of only more than 30 years and are not as long as the Grand Slam tournaments, they have always been held on hard courts and indoors.

You know what? Is it easy to just say that we can change the type of court?

This is too much trouble, and we don't want to add so much work to ourselves.

"Indoor hard courts are a tradition. We have no intention of changing the type of court. Not now and not in the future." The ATP said very firmly, "If you don't like it, you can choose not to participate."

“The year-end finals are not mandatory like the Masters.”

Indeed, the fact is that some players will come to participate even if they are injured and dragging their legs and arms, because the appearance fee is so tempting.

They are not willing to give up such a precious spot to others easily.

"Look, I've already suggested it, but the ATP didn't adopt it." Chen Ran said calmly, "I'm not afraid of holding the year-end tournament on clay courts. I've won the French Open and the Clay Masters, which one have I not won?"

What is rare is that Uncle Nadal, who never shows weakness in verbal attacks, chose to keep quiet this time.

Because Chen Ran said so, Tony Nadal found that he could not find any room for rebuttal.

That guy is so scary!

The overall strength of Chinese tennis is not strong, but Chen Ran is an exception.

"My nephew is already the second best in the world, so I should quit while I am ahead."

Nadal's uncle thought so and decisively took Nadal, who had already stopped in the semi-finals, back to Spain.

……

The opponents in the year-end finals are Chen Ran VS Wawrinka.

Following the Shenzhen Masters, the two met again at the year-end finals in Shanghai.

Before the game, who could have imagined this result?
Runner-up at the Shenzhen Masters, champion at the Paris Masters, and entry into the year-end finals.

Through a series of superb performances at the end of the year, Wawrinka's ranking continued to set new historical highs, and he even reached fourth in the world, second only to Chen Ran, Nadal and Federer.

Fans are even more surprised at the tennis foundation of a small country like Switzerland.

Not only do Swiss players occupy two of the top four positions in the world, but the country has also produced tennis princesses like Martina Hingis among its female tennis players.

Such a background is too terrifying!

At the pre-match press conference, Wawrinka, who has been in high spirits recently, also began to imitate his doubles partner Chen Ran and start to do something.

"Excuse me, who is the men's singles champion in the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar?"

"A player from Thailand, Udomchok, is also the junior of the famous Thai player Srichapan, the second brother of Thailand." A Chinese reporter immediately replied, "He defeated the famous Korean player Lee Hyung-taek and won the men's singles gold medal."

Second brother?

Wawrinka's brows twitched. In short, every time he heard the word "second brother", he couldn't help but feel extremely unhappy.

I am not the second brother, I want to be the first brother.

Wawrinka is not familiar with Udomchok and Lee Hyung-ze, but he knows these two people.

After all, the ATP circle is not big, and there are only about a hundred people who can participate in the tour steadily all year round.

Udomchok's world ranking is basically around 150, while Lee Hyung-taek's ranking is already out of the top 30, but this guy once ranked in the s during his peak period.

In professional tennis, players ranked between 20 and 100 are often replaced.

The players are very close in ability, and if you are not careful, you may be overtaken by those who are lower in the rankings.

The people on the list may change completely in just one year.

A player who can consistently rank among the top 200 in the world and regularly participate in tours and challenge tournaments is already considered a successful tennis player.

However, there is still a huge gap between them and top-level players like Chen Ran.

"What a pity... My partner couldn't go to the Asian Games, otherwise he would have won the championship. If Chen Ran played seriously, those guys would have had a hard time winning even one game."

"Chen... I remember he doesn't have an Asian Games gold medal yet? I really feel sorry for him." Wow, he's starting to play psychological warfare now.

A reporter from another Asian country also chimed in, "Yes. Lee Hyung-taek won the silver medal in the last Asian Games and this one as well. He lost to a Thai player both times. Last time he was the best player, this time he is the second best player."

"The Chinese male players didn't even win a medal! It was like this last time, and it's the same this time."

"Really?" Wawrinka showed an exaggerated expression, "What a pity! If Chen...he wins an Asian Games gold medal, and I win the year-end championship, this is the best result for our doubles partnership, isn't it?"

A reporter from Sports Weekly hit back: "Wawrinka, do you think this kind of psychological warfare will work on Chen Ran?"

Wawrinka was slightly stunned, then laughed: "Haha! I know it's useless, so it's just a joke. In fact, I talked to him about this topic privately, and he said that what he personally cares about is the Guangzhou session four years later."

But four years later, it's still too far away.

Who knows what will happen then?

"Although I know this psychological warfare is useless, I still hope that I will have some good luck in the final," Wawrinka added.

After he left the press conference, Chen Ran attended.

As the most eye-catching player in the game and the defending champion, he faced problems one after another, like cannonballs.

"This guy actually used the microphone from the Asian Games to conduct psychological warfare against me!"

Chen Ran cursed inwardly, but he also felt a little proud in his heart.

The Swiss guy really fell into a trap.

He did tell Wawrinka that he attached great importance to the Guangzhou Asian Games four years later.

But does Chen Ran really care? He doesn't care!
Who knows what will happen in four years?

Chen Ran didn't take the Asian Games seriously at all. Even if he didn't win a gold medal in his career, he would have no regrets.

A Grand Slam in table tennis or badminton cannot be without an Asian Games gold medal, but this is never the case in tennis.

It's just that Chen Ran deliberately mentioned this to Wawrinka, misleading him and causing him to reveal in front of the media that he attached great importance to the Guangzhou Asian Games four years later.

Wawrinka himself could never have imagined that Chen Ran would use such a tactic.

"In the group stage, I lost to Wawrinka and ended my winning streak. He is the winner and the first in the group. So why is the first in the group so afraid of me, the second in the group? Why do they have to use this method?" Chen Ran joked.

When it comes to bickering, he can't lose to anyone.

"Although the year-end finals are important, just as important as Grand Slam finals, I will not play mind games. I sincerely hope that my doubles partner will soon become the real Swiss No. 1."

"After all, he often told me privately that being No. 1 in the world is not important, but being No. 1 in Switzerland is very important."

Chen Ran paused and added: "I really hope that in the future when people mention Swiss tennis, the female tennis player will be Ms. Hingis, and the male tennis player will be Stan Wawrinka, the boy in flowery pants."

"Well...at least that's what I think now."

Damn, you said you don’t play psychological warfare, but you play it even more ruthlessly!
Chinese culture is profound and extensive, and the culture of praising and killing is an open conspiracy.

But Chen Ran was a little curious whether Wawrinka, a foreigner, could understand the essence of China's culture of praising and killing.

One is a Swiss princess, who was once absolutely stunning and charming, and the other is a Swiss guy in flowery pants, who is rustic and has no elegance at all.

In fact, using Federer to represent Swiss men's tennis is obviously a better match for Hingis.

But Chen Ran was deliberately praising the other party, and then through the media, these words would immediately reach the other party's ears.

……

Two hours later, the final drama of the year-end finals finally took place.

As in previous years, the private rooms at Qi-Zhong Tennis Center were packed with celebrities, most of whom were big stars in the entertainment industry.

However, Chen Ran continued the scene from the Wimbledon final. He just practiced alone on the court and had no intention of going forward to greet anyone.

He is so proud and lonely.

As for Wawrinka, he could hardly recognize many of the Chinese stars, so he didn't react much.

It’s just that this guy seemed to be in a good mood, with a cheerful look on his face, which made Chen Ran a little confused.

"Hey, good partner..." The guy came forward to greet him, "I'm very sorry, I shouldn't have played psychological warfare with you."

"Uh?"

"You praised me so much, compared me with Hingis, and made me and her the representatives of Swiss men's and women's tennis. Although I also long for such a day, I am still very excited to hear it from the world's No. 1 like you."

Oh oh oh!
The Swiss guy actually had tears in his eyes.

He has been suppressed by Federer for too long.

After all, among ambitious players, who would be willing to be the second brother or someone else's younger brother?

What's more, he is a genius who became famous at a young age.

How can you be bright when you are born with beauty!

This time, Wawrinka defeated Federer consecutively in the Paris Masters and the year-end finals, allowing him to be proud of himself.

Now, Chen Ran's flattery has made this guy's mood reach an unprecedented high point.

Wawrinka was visibly thrilled.

"He actually took it seriously!"

Chen Ran suddenly realized that foreigners really could not understand China's culture of flattery.

But he found that Wawrinka was a little too excited.

Could it be that... my psychological warfare worked?
Soon after, the competition officially began.

Chen Ran found that Wawrinka was very excited when playing, and was so excited that he almost forgot himself.

For many balls, the opponent clearly had a better way to handle them, but ended up playing them in a hurry.

In the first set, although Wawrinka was in excellent mental state and ran very actively, there were serious problems in his tactical layout. He played very rashly and aggressively, and it was easy for Chen Ran to find his flaws.

6 is better than 1!

This is the score of the first set.

The gap was huge, and Chen Ran won easily.

Wawrinka's on-the-spot performance was completely different from when he played against Chen Ran in the group match.

What’s even more interesting is that this guy didn’t seem to notice the problem. He scratched his scalp from time to time, swung his racket from time to time, and always felt that something was wrong.

Am I too excited today?
A true master of psychological warfare is able to disrupt the opponent's mind without realizing it.

……

(End of this chapter)