Smack!
Atobe raised his hand and fired another high-quality Tauser Serve.
Sanada had long since figured out how it worked, and easily returned it with a half-volley.
Neither rushed the net. They continued trading shots from the baseline.
Even on Atobe's serve, Sanada stood like a mountain, returning every shot Atobe sent his way.
Smack!
Suddenly, Sanada lowered his racket face, and the powerful spin vanished in an instant.
"Slow as the Forest!"
Another high-quality slice landed steadily near the net. Atobe immediately moved forward. The instant the ball bounced, he lowered his body and forced a return.
"Step... step-step..."
Whoosh!
Sanada leaped into the air and slammed the ball down with all his strength.
It was a beautiful smash, but Atobe had noticed Sanada's movement and leaped as well. Holding his racket with both hands in a backhand grip, he met the ball squarely with the racket face.
The ball spun violently against the racket, making a sharp, scraping sound.
Thud!!
Sanada extended his racket, but the ball sailed past it by a mere ten centimeters and landed precisely on the baseline.
"Game, Atobe, 1-0!"
He'd won a game?!
Only then did everyone react: Atobe had taken the first game.
The Rikkai Dai tennis club members watching looked utterly incredulous.
After all, his opponent was Sanada, the Emperor of Rikkai Dai Fuzhong.
"That was a jackknife!"
Mukahi couldn't help nodding. "Atobe's movements are unusually sharp today."
"Yeah!"
Oshitari nodded in agreement beside him. "He's fired up. Looks like he's found a worthy opponent."
Whether it was fundamentals, instincts, or judgment—
That player named Sanada Genichiro was every bit Atobe's equal. Oshitari hadn't expected Rikkai Dai's vice-captain to be this strong. He clenched his fists, sensing that he still had a long way to go before he could match those