Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 679 Perfect Comeback
Chen Ran once again made it to the Australian Open finals.

He has accomplished this feat for the sixth consecutive year, a feat that rivals that of Rod Laver, the man who named the center court.

After the game, Chen Ran and Federer both smiled when they shook hands.

"Chen, I feel like I've pushed my limits, but I still can't beat you."

Federer was also very helpless. He knew that he had played the best tennis ever in this game, but it was still of no avail.

He was very satisfied with his performance in this game and was convinced by Chen Ran's level.

If we lose after coming this far, there's nothing much to say.

"Roger, I actually don't know how I managed to get through this."

Chen Ran also smiled bitterly, "Really, at one point in the game, I thought I was going to lose this game. I can only say that I was lucky enough to save myself from the match point."

He knew that in this match it wasn't just Federer who pushed his limits, but that he also played beyond his own limits.

This Federer is even better than the "Federer" he met in the "simulated training ground".

"If Roger can do it, then Novak and Rafael can do it too, if they stay healthy."

Chen Ran had no doubt about it.

If he wants to continue to be competitive, he needs to keep improving.

……

Two days later, Chen Ran met his old rival Djokovic again in the final.

In last year's Australian Open final, Chen Ran fought his opponent for five full sets before losing.

But this time, Chen Ran came with the determination for revenge.

Although Chen Ran won the previous two rounds after five sets of battles and his physical energy had been consumed to the limit, Chen Ran felt that he could still hold on a little longer.

After all, the Grand Slam competition is held every two days, which gives Chen Ran enough time to recover his physical strength.

"My physical limit is three consecutive five-set matches."

Chen Ran knows himself very well, and from the quarter-finals to this final, it was exactly the third game.

He could hold on a little longer.

Of course, this is premised on playing all five sets.

He must win this game and get his revenge.

The Australian Open is our own backyard, how could we lose to the same person in the final for two consecutive years?
At the beginning of the final, Chen Ran showed a very proactive side and was full of momentum.

Djokovic didn't expect Chen Ran to play so aggressively.

The game had just begun and this guy was already showing an attitude of wanting to fight with me to the death.

At the beginning of the game, Chen Ran won both the save and the break, and took a 3-game lead.

In the next few games, he broke the serve again and won the first set 6-1.

Djokovic looked up at the scoreboard on the electronic screen, and while breathing heavily, he showed an expression of disbelief at the score.

He didn't expect that he would be so passive in this first set.

In the second game, Chen Ran continued to maintain the same output ability as in the first game.

Unless it was absolutely necessary, Chen Ran didn't want to fight his opponent for five full sets.

If you can end it sooner, end it sooner.

Djokovic obviously improved in the second set, but still couldn't withstand Chen Ran's offensive.

"This guy has evolved further than when we met him at the Australian Open and the Olympics last year!"

He was also very speechless.

That guy has reached this level, and he can still continue to improve and show such a high level on both offense and defense.

Djokovic felt that his proud defensive skills seemed to collapse like paper in front of Chen Ran. In the second set, Djokovic persisted until his fifth serve, but he finally couldn't hold on.

Chen Ran won the second set 6-4.

Leading 2-0!

At this time, Djokovic couldn't help it and took the initiative to initiate a "toilet break".

He needs to calm down and adjust his state.

Today, Djokovic was completely suppressed by Chen Ran.

This situation last occurred more than a year ago.

"My hands feel so hot!" Chen Ran cursed inwardly.

Djokovic's "bathroom break" may indeed disrupt his originally hot hand.

He could only stand up and jog around the court in order to maintain his hot form.

After running for a few minutes, Chen Ran saw that Djokovic had not appeared yet, so he asked the caddy to feed him the ball and he practiced serving over and over again.

The pats were precise and powerful, without any thought of saving energy at all.

When Djokovic staggered out of the players' corridor, he was stunned when he saw Chen Ran's actions.

Wow, you are so dedicated even when practicing your serve?

Generally speaking, it is normal for tennis players to practice serving when their opponent is taking a "bathroom break" to keep their hands hot, but there are very few who can hit the serve as hard and unreservedly as Chen Ran does.

Is it necessary to be so red-eyed and murderous just to keep the touch when serving?

Not only did Chen Ran serve with great power, but he also let out a roar every time he swung his racket. He was truly devoted to the game.

"Isn't he really tired? He uses so much strength just to practice serving alone."

Djokovic also felt a little "frightened".

After the third set started, Chen Ran's feel was not affected at all, but became even hotter.

Djokovic's state, which he had finally adjusted, was like a flame being doused with a basin of cold water.

His touch had recovered somewhat, but Chen Ran's touch was even hotter.

For the first time, Djokovic felt deeply that his "toilet plan" was useless.

It was obvious that you were always successful in the past!

After 30 minutes, the score was 3 to 3!

But every one of Djokovic's serve games was extremely difficult, and the score was tied at 40 several times.

This level of difficulty almost drove him crazy and made it difficult for him to persevere.

In the fourth service game, he finally lost.

When faced with Chen Ran's overwhelming offensive, he was unexpectedly countered by Chen Ran with a strong "love game".

Djokovic didn't even get a single point in his own serve game.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Ran did not give Djokovic any chance to counterattack.

After breaking the serve, he held his serve strongly all the way and won the third set 6-4 again.

Chen Ran "unexpectedly" won three sets in a row and swept Djokovic.

The "five-set battle" that the outside world expected did not come.

Chen Ran did not have as much trouble as in the semi-finals and quarter-finals, and avenged his defeat in last year's final with a 4-1 victory.

This trip to the Australian Open can be called a "perfect comeback."

……

(End of this chapter)