Fifteen to zero.
Before the cheers from the stands had completely subsided, Cheng Che had already walked behind the service line.
He dribbled the ball twice, looked up, and glanced at Medvedev on the other side.
The Russia stood in the receiving area, knees slightly bent, with his center of gravity low.
His expression remained unchanged, but he moved half a step forward from where he stood.
Cheng Che tossed the ball and swung his racket.
The second serve was at a speed of 211 kilometers per hour.
Medvedev touched the ball this time, blocked it with his backhand, and the ball returned to Cheng Che's half of the court, landing shallowly.
Cheng Che stepped forward and hit a forehand shot, sending the ball straight to the opposite corner.
Medvedev moved laterally and barely managed to reach the ball, but his return shot was shallow.
Cheng Che had already reached the net and attempted a backhand volley; the ball bounced off the ground and out of bounds.
Thirty to zero.
Another wave of excitement erupted in the stands.
This state is terrifying.
[First serve 2-1-7, second serve 2-1-1, who can return these?]
Medvedev touched the ball, but couldn't get back into position.
[ Cheng Che surfs the internet so fast! I didn't even have time to react to what happened just now.]
Is this the true power of the King of Hard Courts?
Medvedev bounced the ball twice and walked back to his receiving position.
Third point.
When he received the serve, he moved his position forward a little, almost stepping onto the baseline.
Cheng Che serves, to the outside corner. Medvedev guessed the right direction and launched a forehand attack, returning the ball to Cheng Che's backhand side.
Cheng Che's backhand slice shot landed very short.
Medvedev rushed up and placed a small ball.
Cheng Che ran from the baseline, slid, stretched out his racket, scooped the ball up from the ground, and lobbed it high.
Medvedev retreats and delivers a forehand overhead smash.
The ball hit Cheng Che's half of the court and bounced out of bounds.
Thirty to fifteen.
A collective sigh of regret rose from the stands. In the domestic broadcast booth, Lin Yan spoke:
" Medvedev attacked after receiving the serve, then dropped the ball to force Cheng Che to the net, and then finished with a high smash. This was a tactic he had prepared before the match; he was trying to disrupt Cheng Che's rhythm."
Zhou Zhou chimed in, "And look at his positioning, he's almost half a meter further forward than in the last match. He's aiming for an aggressive attack today, not letting Cheng Che serve comfortably."
Some people in the live chat noticed it too.
Medvedev is different today; he's positioned much further forward.
[In the last match, he stood so far back and got completely destroyed by Cheng Che's serve; he learned his lesson this time.]
[That ball was placed well; Cheng Che almost couldn't reach it.]
[Don't panic, Cheng Che is still testing the waters.]
Fourth point.
Cheng Che serves, the first serve goes into the service box, at a speed of 214 kilometers per hour.
Medvedev received the serve and pushed a straight shot with his backhand.
Cheng Che moved sideways, hit a forehand shot, and the ball, with topspin, flew over the net and landed deep on the baseline.
Medvedev took two steps back and returned a high ball with his forehand.
Cheng Che forward and hit another forehand shot, this time with even faster ball speed.
Medvedev blocked with a backhand, and the ball bounced high.
Cheng Che jumped up and unleashed a forehand overhead smash.
The ball bounced off Medvedev's half of the field.
Forty to fifteen.
In the first game, Cheng Che held serve. The score was 1-0.
But this game lasted almost five minutes.
It was three times longer than the first inning of the game against Rojas.
In the stands, the girls holding up their support signs were still cheering, but some knowledgeable spectators began exchanging glances.
Medvedev's condition today is indeed different.
The second game, Medvedev's serve.
The Russia player stood behind the service line and dribbled the ball twice.
His shot speed wasn't as fast as Cheng Che's, but his shot placement was very tricky.
The first point: Cheng Che receives the serve from the outside corner and returns it to the middle.
Medvedev hits a forehand shot, the ball hovering near the sideline.
Cheng Che moved sideways to reach it and returned a diagonal strike with a backhand.
Medvedev volleyed the ball at the net, and it hit an open space in Cheng Che's half of the court.
Fifteen to zero.
Medvedev held serve, tying the score at 1-1.
In the first six games, both players held serve, making it 3-3.
The atmosphere in the stands began to change.
The girls who had been screaming quieted down and started watching the game seriously.
Because they also sensed that Medvedev wasn't there just to make up the numbers.
The seventh game, Cheng Che's serve.
He kept it very safe.
The first serve success rate was very high. Although Medvedev was positioned further forward, Cheng Che controlled the landing point of his serve more precisely.
Outside angle, inside angle, body-tracking—every landing point is changing.
Medvedev had two chances, but failed to create a break point.
Four to three.
The eighth game, Medvedev's serve.
In this game, Cheng Che finally found an opportunity. A backhand down-the-line shot forced his first break point.
The girls in the stands stood up again.
Medvedev bounced the ball twice and served.
An ace. 209 km/h, hitting the inside corner.
Forty to forty.
The second break point.
Medvedev delivered another ace.
This time it's the outside corner, the ball speed is 212 kilometers per hour.
Cheng Che stood in the receiving area, watching the ace land, without any reaction.
He turned and walked back to his hair-receiving position, his expression calm.
But the audience in the stands were not calm.
[Both break points were saved by an ace???]
Medvedev's serve was absolutely powerful today!
[Holy crap, these two ACEs are almost as Cheng Che as Cheng Che!]
[The world's fourth-ranked position isn't given lightly.]
[ Cheng Che, don't rush, take your time]
[These two aces are just too difficult to handle, their shots are too tricky.]
Medvedev holds serve. 4-4.
In the first eight games, no one was able to break serve.
In the ninth game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 5-4.
In the tenth game, Medvedev held serve, tying the score at 5-5.
In the eleventh game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 6-5.
In the twelfth inning, Medvedev held serve, tying the score at 6-6.
The first set was a tiebreaker.
The stands fell silent.
The entire Centre Court, filled with 15,000 people, was completely silent. Everyone was focused on the field.
In the tiebreaker, Cheng Che served first.
The first point, a serve into the box. Medvedev returns the serve and hits a deep backhand.
Cheng Che rallied at the Cheng Che hit a forehand shot, the ball hovering near the sideline.
Medvedev ran over and reached the ball, but his return shot was shallow. Cheng Che went to the net and volleyed with his backhand.
One to zero.
Medvedev serves the second point.
The serve enters the box, Cheng Che receives and attacks aggressively with a forehand down the line.
Medvedev moved to the side and blocked with his backhand. The ball bounced high. Cheng Che jumped up and hit a forehand overhead smash.
Two to zero.
Cheers erupted from the stands.
[Tie 7, 2-0! It's in the bag!]
Cheng Che remained composed in crucial moments.
[Those two break points were saved by an ace, and now they've recovered them all in Game 7]
But Medvedev did not collapse.
He serves the third point.
After the first shot entered the area, Cheng Che received the pass and returned to the middle lane.
Medvedev hits a forehand smash, the ball flying straight to the opposite corner.
Cheng Che to reach the ball, then used a backhand slice, resulting in a very short landing point.
Medvedev went to the net and placed a small ball.
Cheng Che ran over, stretched out his racket, scooped the ball up from the ground, and lobbed it high.
Medvedev retreats and delivers a forehand overhead smash.
Two to one.
Fourth point, Cheng Che serves.
Medvedev received the serve and launched an attack, his forehand straight down the line, pressing down on the sideline.
Cheng Che ran over and reached it, then returned a diagonal shot. Medvedev went to the net and volleyed back.
The ball hit an open space in Cheng Che's half of the court.
Two to two.
In the tiebreaker, neither player gave an inch.
The score went back and forth.
Three to two, three to three, four to three, four to four, five to four, five to five.
The girls in the stands were clenching their hands so tightly that their nails were almost digging into their flesh.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice also sounded somewhat strained.
"Tie seven, 5-5. Both players are in excellent form today. Medvedev's serve and net volleys have caused Cheng Che a lot of trouble. Now it's a matter of who can hold on in the crucial points."
Zhou Zhou, standing nearby, said, " Cheng Che has always handled crucial points calmly. He has the ability."
The screen was flooded with comments.
My heart is racing, I can't bear to watch!
[In a 5-5 tie, the first player to make a mistake loses the game.]
[ Cheng Che, stay calm, you have a strong heart!]
Medvedev was really strong today; this match was even tougher than the one against Zverev.
This is a Grand Slam semi-final, no joke.
[ Cheng Che, keep it up, win this game!]