In the fifth point, Khachanov made a desperate attempt.
Cheng Che received the serve and launched an attack, hitting a backhand shot. Khachanov couldn't reach it.
Cheng Che breaks serve. One to zero.
Khachanov walked back to the baseline and dribbled the ball twice.
He told himself that being broken in the first set wasn't the end of the world. He'd played in far too many big matches.
Lin Yan's voice carried a hint of emotion. " Cheng Che broke serve in the very first game. Khachanov's first serve percentage is only 50%, which is very rare in his matches."
The second game, Cheng Che's serve.
Khachanov stood in the receiving position, his center of gravity very low.
He stared at Cheng Che's hand, waiting for the ball to be tossed up. Cheng Che tossed the ball and swung his racket.
One shot from the outside, at a speed of 235 kilometers per hour.
Khachanov moved slightly, but only one step.
The ball hit the service area, bounced, and flew towards the advertising boards. He didn't chase it.
"Fifteen to zero."
In the second point, Cheng Che fired an inside shot at 231 km/h.
Khachanov managed to block the shot, sending the ball soaring high. Cheng Che moved to the net and delivered a powerful smash.
"Thirty to zero."
In the third point, Cheng Che fired a shot straight at him.
Khachanov hastily blocked the ball with his sidehand swing, and it landed in the midfield.
Cheng Che executed a forehand cross-court shot, and the ball landed inside the sideline.
"Forty to zero."
For the fourth point, Cheng Che served a shot to the outside corner. Khachanov didn't react.
" Cheng Che holds serve. Two to zero."
Khachanov stood behind the baseline, watching the ball fly by.
His serve was like a toy in front of Cheng Che.
He took a deep breath and gripped his racket even tighter.
The third game, Khachanov's serve.
In this game, he played his best game of the match.
100% first serve percentage, two aces, and one forehand winner.
Cheng Che only touched the ball once.
" Khachanov holds serve. One to two."
Lin Yan's voice rose. " Khachanov has completely dominated this game! His serve is flawless, Cheng Che didn't even have a chance to get into a rally!"
The comments section exploded with messages.
[That's more like it, the world's fourth-ranked player can't be shut out.]
[ Khachanov has recovered; the match is just beginning.]
Cheng Che needs to be careful.
In the fourth game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 3-1.
In the fifth game, Khachanov held serve again.
His serve speed has returned to over 210 kilometers per hour, and baseline rallies have stabilized.
Cheng Che created a break point in this game, but Khachanov saved it with a forehand winner.
" Khachanov holds serve. 2-3."
In the stands, Su Miaoyin loosened her grip on the mineral water bottle.
In the sixth game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 4-2.
The seventh game, Khachanov's serve.
He had a tough time in this game, with the score going back and forth, from 15-15 to 40-15.
Cheng Che created two break points, but Khachanov saved them with two high-quality serves.
" Khachanov holds serve. Three to four."
Lin Yan's voice carried a sense of emotion:
" Khachanov's experience was on full display in this game. His serve choices on crucial points were very clever, twice targeting Cheng Che's backhand, preventing him from launching an attack."
Some viewers in the live chat started to worry.
[ Khachanov's current form, he might not be able to win the first set.]
[He held firm on his serve; Cheng Che needs to stay focused on his own serve.]
[Don't rush, Cheng Che hasn't used his full power yet.]
In the eighth game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 5-3.
The ninth game, Khachanov's serve.
This was the first game he absolutely had to hold onto.
He stood behind the baseline and took a deep breath.
His first serve percentage dropped to 45% in this set.
Cheng Che received the serve and launched an attack, unleashing a powerful cross-court shot with his forehand.
Khachanov ran over and blocked the ball back. Cheng Che went to the net and volleyed the ball for a point.
"Zero to fifteen."
In the second point, Khachanov missed his first serve.
On his second serve, Cheng Che launched a preemptive attack, striking with a forehand backhand.
Khachanov lunged forward, but couldn't reach it.
"Zero to thirty."
For the third point, Khachanov made a desperate attempt.
Cheng Che returned the serve with a body shot. Khachanov sidestepped, then hit a forehand down the line.
The ball is inside the line.
Cheng Che hit a backhand shot down the line, and the ball flew over the sideline at Khachanov's forehand side.
Khachanov ran two steps, but couldn't reach it.
"Zero to forty."
On the fourth point, Khachanov missed his first serve. On his second serve, Cheng Che attacked, hitting a forehand backhand. Khachanov couldn't reach it.
Cheng Che breaks serve. Six to three, Cheng Che wins the first set.
Lin Yan's voice rang out on the radio:
Cheng Che won the first set 6-3. Khachanov couldn't withstand the pressure in the ninth game, with his second serve percentage dropping to only 33%. But overall, this was the closest set Cheng Che has played in this Master tournament.
A barrage of comments flooded the screen.
[Six to three, Khachanov is much stronger than his previous opponents]
He held serve at least three times and even created a break point.
[But Cheng Che was too cautious, giving them no chance at crucial points.]
The second game begins.
Khachanov adjusted his tactics.
He moved his receiving position forward by half a step, no longer passively waiting for Cheng Che's serve, but taking the initiative to attack.
This adjustment worked in the third game.
He forced a break point and then broke Cheng Che's serve with a forehand winner.
" Khachanov breaks serve. Two to one."
Lin Yan's voice rose. " Khachanov has found a breakthrough! He moved ahead of time and made his judgment the moment Cheng Che served! This is the first time Cheng Che has been broken in this Master tournament!"
The live chat exploded.
[They've been broken! Khachanov's adjustment was too quick!]
[The world's fourth-ranked player is indeed different; he found Cheng Che's rhythm.]
[ Cheng Che, stay calm, you can break through.]
Cheng Che walked back to the baseline and dribbled the ball. He mentally said, "Start."
[ Total Concentration activated.]
The world fell silent.
The cheers from the stands, the sound of Khachanov bouncing the ball, even the sound of the wind, all receded into the distance.
His vision became extremely clear; everything on the field was within his sight.
Khachanov's stance, center of gravity, and the orientation of his racket were all laid out before him like an enlarged blueprint.
He took a deep breath.
Then he tossed the ball and served it to the outside corner.
Khachanov anticipated the direction and moved ahead of time.
But Cheng Che's serve landed in a more tricky spot than he had anticipated, bouncing outwards at a greater angle.
Khachanov took two steps to the side, extending his racket to its limit, only to touch a wisp of air.