Zhou Cheng's opponent was another young ace from another provincial team.
Over the past two days, more than a dozen coaches and dozens of players had gathered over meals to mull things over repeatedly. They had reached a consensus: against Zhou Cheng, they could only "keep the arc low." They absolutely could not hit "high balls" or let the ball travel too far above the net.
After all, once it rose past a certain height above the net, Zhou Cheng would inevitably greet it with an explosive, blade-cracking smash.
No one dared guarantee they could keep returning those explosive, high-speed shots on a single breath.
Their only chance of winning was to play "low balls," using flicks to keep the ball skimming the table as much as possible and never giving Zhou Cheng a comfortable opportunity to hit back.
It had to be said that this method did work.
Zhou Cheng had always favored fast penhold attacks and swift victories. Once his opponent deliberately lowered the ball's arc, it became difficult for him to keep playing at his most comfortable rhythm.
After all, the rules required a return to clear the net and touch the table. Hitting the opponent straight in the face earned no points and could even constitute intentional injury.
This made it difficult for Zhou Cheng to win as quickly as he had in the earlier rounds.
But that was all-it merely made a quick victory difficult.
"Keeping the arc low" was not so easy, either. One lapse in control, and his opponent would fail to clear the net and give away a point without him even needing to counterattack.
Besides, his rarely using technique did not mean he had none. People whose control and command of their own strength could match his were as rare as