On the day of the final.
Melbourne Park Centre Court, with 15,000 seats, was packed to capacity.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice was half an octave higher than usual.
"Dear viewers, we are now broadcasting live from Centre Court at Melbourne Park. Today's match is the Australian Open Men's Singles Final, with Cheng Che facing Zverev. This is the first time in Xia Country men's tennis history that someone has reached a Grand Slam final, and it is also the most important match of Cheng Che's career to date."
Zhou Zhou in from the side, speaking a little faster:
" Zverev, a Germany, is ranked third in the world. He lost to Cheng Che in the final of the Magic City Masters with a score of 6-1, 6-2. After that match, Zverev said in an interview, 'I need to go back and rethink my tennis.' Today he stands here, clearly with the answer."
Lin Yan nodded:
"And look at his expression today, it's much more serious than it Magic City."
The live chat exploded.
[The finals!!! It's finally here!!!]
[How many people are watching online? When I first logged in, there were over a million, and it's still rising.]
[It shows 1.3 million here, and it increases by tens of thousands every time I refresh.]
I've set up three devices—my phone and tablet—all running simultaneously, just to contribute to the online user count.
Zverev looked very serious today; he knew what he was facing.
[ The Magic City was 6-1, 6-2; today it definitely won't be that easy.]
[But Cheng Che's performance in the semifinals was Magic City, I think he can win.]
[Stop jinxing, stop jinxing, just watch the game!]
My heart is racing; I'm more nervous than when I'm taking an exam myself.
The camera cuts to the audience seats.
The Centre Court, with its 15,000 seats, was completely full today.
The camera panned across the stands, from the bottom to the top, it was packed with people.
But just like the semi-finals, the proportion of female viewers remained ridiculously high.
Girls of different skin colors and speaking different languages held up various colored support signs and wore T-shirts with Cheng Che's name printed on them, all with their eyes fixed on the direction of the players' tunnel.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan paused for a moment when he saw this scene.
"Look at the stands. I estimate that over 70% of the audience supports Cheng Che today. This percentage is extremely rare in a Grand Slam final. Usually, both players have a large number of supporters in the final, but today it's almost one-sided."
Zhou Zhou added, "And look at the faces of these audience members, they come from all over the world. Cheng Che's influence has transcended national borders."
The tone of the comments shifted slightly.
[So many beautiful women!]
[The blonde woman on the left is so pretty!]
[The one in the middle wearing the white dress looks so good!]
Wait, isn't that Pei Jingshu wearing a hat???
[I saw her!!! She's in the middle stands!!!]
[Among the Xia Country students, next to the one holding the national flag, isn't that Yan Ruanning in the trench coat???]
Holy crap, they're all here???
You know what, it really is true, that profile is so similar.
My goodness, the stands are even more exciting than the game!
Pei Jingshu sat in a seat near the front of the middle of the stands.
She wore a light blue dress today, her hair was down, and she wore a white baseball cap with the brim pulled low.
Jin Zhixiu, standing next to her, was wearing a dark gray T-shirt. Her expression was calmer than last time, but her fingers remained clenched.
A few rows to the right, Su Qingyue sat in an inconspicuous corner.
She was wearing a white shirt, her hair was tied in a low ponytail, and she wasn't wearing much makeup, but she looked very clean.
Her gaze was fixed on the players' tunnel, her lips slightly pursed, as if she were silently reciting something.
On the left side of the lower stands, Yan Ruanning, wearing sunglasses, sat among a group of international students.
She didn't hold up any support signs or shout any slogans; she just sat quietly with her hands on her knees, her fingertips slightly white.
On the other side of the stands, near the players' tunnel exit, Su Miaoyin, wearing a light pink dress and with her hair down, held a handwritten sign in her hand.
The sign only had two words: "Keep it up."
Four different locations, four different people, but their gazes were all fixed in the same direction.
Players' tunnel.
An announcement was made over the loudspeaker.
"First to enter is Alexander Zverev from Germany— "
A round of applause erupted from the stands.
Zverev emerged from the tunnel, dressed in a black jersey, expressionless, his steps heavy.
He walked to his seat, put down his golf bag, and began to organize his equipment.
He moved slowly, as if giving himself more time.
Then the loudspeaker came on.
"Next to enter is Cheng Che from Xia Country— "
At that moment, the entire Centre Court seemed to be set ablaze.
A tremendous roar erupted from all sides of the stands simultaneously.
The girls holding up support signs stood up, the international students waving national flags stood up, and the fans from all over the world stood up.
" Cheng Che!!!"
"Come on!!!"
"Aaaaaahh...
Cheng Che walked out of the players' tunnel.
He was wearing a white jersey with the Xia Country flag pinned to his chest and carrying a basketball bag.
Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the stadium roof, falling on his shoulders and bathing him in a glow.
He looked up and glanced around the stands. His expression was calm, with a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.
The arc landed on the stands, and the screams rose even higher.
Cheng Che! I love you!!!
"Come on!!!"
"Win the finals!!!"
He raised his hand and waved it in each of the four directions.
Every time he swung his hand, the stands on the other side would explode.
Zverev stood beside his seat, watching this scene without changing his expression.
But his fingers tightened their grip on the racket a little.
He glanced down at his racket, then looked up at Cheng Che opposite him.
Cheng Che was standing behind the baseline. He dribbled the ball twice and then turned around.
Their eyes met briefly in mid-air.
Zverev looked into those eyes.
There was no excitement, no nervousness, no hesitation in those eyes.
It's like a lake, so deep you can't see the bottom.
He recalled the match in Magic City.
Cheng Che's eyes were like that that day too, calm, and then he was beaten helplessly on the court.
Zverev took a deep breath, turned around, and walked towards his half of the field.
He knew what he was facing.
A mountain.
A mountain he couldn't climb last time, and he didn't know if he could climb it this time either.
But he knew he could only do his best.
The referee announces the coin toss.
Cheng Che won and chose to serve first.
He stood behind the service line with his eyes closed.
[ Total Concentration ] Activated.
[ Star of the Court ] Passive Bonus.
The feel is fixed at 100.
He opened his eyes, tossed the ball, and swung his racket.
The speed is 219 kilometers per hour.
Zverev had barely moved a step when the ball hit the service box, bounced out, and struck the barrier.
Fifteen to zero.
The stands erupted.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice rose a notch:
"Two hundred and nineteen kilometers! Cheng Che's first serve was the fastest in this year's Australian Open! Zverev had absolutely no chance to react!"
Zhou Zhou excitedly chimed in, "That's Cheng Che's form today. He never hesitates to serve in crucial matches."