The screen was flooded with comments.
My heart is racing, I can't bear to watch!
[ Cheng Che, stay calm, you have a strong heart!]
Zverev was really strong today; this match was even tougher than the one against Medvedev.
This is a Grand Slam final, no joke.
In the first set, Zverev stood behind the baseline, his legs trembling slightly.
His brow bone was drawn low, and he would tap his racket twice on the top of his shoe before each serve.
He thought to himself: His serve is even faster than in the Magic City match. I've already positioned myself forward, but I still can't reach it.
He gritted his teeth, his cheeks puffing out and then deflating.
Sweat trickled down his temples from his forehead. He clenched his fist; it was short, but his knuckles were white.
Four to six.
Zverev won the first set.
When he walked back to his seat, his steps were heavy, but he didn't bend over.
He thought to himself: I won. I won a game. But my legs were starting to feel heavy.
He looked up at Cheng Che across from him. Cheng Che was sitting in a chair drinking water, his expression unchanged.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice carried obvious surprise. " Zverev has won the first set 4-6! This is Cheng Che's first set lost in this Australian Open. Zverev's serve was excellent today, and his forehand was also of very high quality. Cheng Che needs to adjust as soon as possible."
Zhou Zhou added from the side, "Look at Cheng Che's expression, he's not flustered. But Zverev really played at the world's third-best level today."
The screen was flooded with comments.
[?????]
[The first set was lost???]
[ Zverev so dominant today???]
Cheng Che isn't in good form; he's making a lot of mistakes with his forehand.
[Don't panic, don't panic, Cheng Che is a slow starter]
Zverev really gave it his all today.
I'm starting to panic; something's not right.
In the second set, Zverev continued to dominate.
His forehand was like a madman's, hitting the baseline with every shot.
His expression shifted from focused to a kind of almost obsessive excitement, his eyes fixed on Cheng Che's every move.
He thought to himself: I can win. I can win today. His movements weren't as fast Magic City in the Shanghai game; he was tired.
Cheng Che's rhythm was disrupted.
His return shot wasn't deep enough, Zverev seized the opportunity to keep moving closer to the net.
Every time he scored, Zverev would clench his fist and let out a low growl towards his box.
His pace quickened, as if he were putting all his energy into this one move.
Six to seven.
Zverev won the second set.
When he walked back to his seat, he felt completely drained.
He plopped down in the chair, grabbed a towel and covered his face, his shoulders heaving violently.
He thought to himself: Two sets now. I'm leading by two sets. But I'm out of energy. I really have no energy left.
He removed the towel from his face and gasped for breath.
His lips were pale, and his eyes were bloodshot.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice deepened:
Zverev won the second set in the tiebreak, taking a 2-0 lead in the match. Cheng Che was pushed to the brink. This was the first time he had fallen behind by two sets in this Australian Open. Zverev's performance today was near perfect, but look at his breathing—he had pushed himself to the limit.
Zhou Zhou continued:
" Cheng Che still has a chance. Zverev's stamina won't last five sets. But the prerequisite is that Cheng Che must hold on in the third set."
The sentiment in the comments section has completely shifted.
[It's all over, it...]
[Down 0-2???]
What's wrong with Cheng Che today???
Zverev is on fire; no one can stop him in this form.
It's not that Cheng Che is incompetent, it's that Zverev is too strong.
My heart can't take it, I can't watch anymore.
Cheng Che, wake up!!!
Don't panic, don't panic, there are still three rounds left, there's still a chance.
Zverev is out of energy; look how breathless he is.
Cheng Che must win the third set, or he's truly finished.
Before the third round began, Cheng Che sat down in his chair and took a sip of water.
He closed his eyes.
I mentally went over all of Zverev's shot trajectories from the first two sets.
Then he opened his eyes and stood up.
In the third game, Cheng Che changed.
He no longer strives to kill his opponent with every shot.
He started hitting the ball deeper, closer to the baseline, and with more spin. Every shot forced Zverev to run a few more steps.
Zverev tried to continue the pressure.
But his legs couldn't keep up. He made more and more mistakes with his forehand, and his footwork began to slow down.
After each mistake, he would tap his shoe with his racket, much more frequently than before.
His expression changed from excitement to anxiety, and his lips turned white.
He thought to himself: He did it on purpose. He's running away from me. He knows I'm out of strength.
Six to three.
Cheng Che won the third set.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice rang out again:
Cheng Che won the third set 6-3! The overall score is 1-2. His strategy adjustment was very clear: to wear down Zverev. The Germany played too aggressively in the first two sets, and his stamina was already at its limit.
Zhou Zhou nodded:
" Cheng Che's stamina is his biggest advantage. Look at him after the third set, his breathing was still very steady. Zverev on the other side had already started to put his hands on his knees."
The trend of comments on the live stream has changed again.
[They're back! They're back!!!]
[I knew Cheng Che could adjust!!!]
Zverev played too aggressively in the first two sets, and now he can't keep up.
[The stamina monster's crushing victory was so satisfying!]
[Were there still people predicting the game's failure after the first two games? Why don't they step forward and say something?]
I panicked before, I apologize, I shouldn't have questioned it.
[ Cheng Che: You played two good games, now it's my turn]
In the fourth set, Zverev attempted to increase his pace and launch an aggressive attack.
But his legs couldn't keep up. Cheng Che's anticipation of the serve was too accurate, and he broke serve in the first game.
Zverev stood behind the baseline, head down, using his racket to support himself on the ground.
His shoulders rose and fell slightly, and his breathing was heavy.
He thought to himself: This is it. I can't lift my legs, and I can't press down with my forehand. I didn't wear him down at all in the first two rounds; I just exhausted myself.
He looked up at Cheng Che across from him, his eyes no longer showing the same excited sharpness as in the first two games, but instead filled with a layer of tired helplessness.
His lips twitched, as if in a bitter smile, or perhaps resignation.
Six to two.
Cheng Che won the fourth set.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice rose a notch. " Cheng Che wins the fourth set 6-2! The score is tied 2-2! The match has gone to a deciding set! Zverev's stamina is completely exhausted, while Cheng Che's breathing remains steady. In the deciding set, Cheng Che has an absolute advantage in stamina!"
The live chat exploded.
[2-2!!! Decisive Set!!!]
[A comeback from 0-2 down to 3-2!!! A comeback from 0-2 down to 3-2!!!]
Zverev is finished; you can see he's swaying as he walks.
Cheng Che's stamina is terrifying; he barely broke a sweat during the five-game battle.
This is the Enduring Progress Without Fail and Chosen One of Long-Distance Running.
Zverev played so well in the first two sets, but now he's given it all back.
In the fifth set, Zverev was already exhausted.
His steps grew heavier and heavier, each movement feeling like he was dragging a lead weight.
Cheng Che's ball landed on his left and right sides, and he could only watch the ball land, unable to even extend his racket.
His expression changed from helplessness to numbness, his lips were slightly parted, and his breathing was short and rapid.
He thought to himself: I can't beat him. I really can't beat him. He wasn't worn down by me at all today; I'm the one who exhausted myself.
Cheng Che stood opposite him, his expression calm.
But his eyes were brighter than in the previous rounds, like a hunter seeing the prey's final struggle.
Six to one.
Cheng Che won the fifth set.
The match is over. The score is 3-2.
The scores of the five sets were: 4-6, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.
The entire event lasted four hours and twenty-one minutes.
In the domestic broadcast studio, Lin Yan's voice rose a notch:
"Match over! Cheng Che wins the Australian Open Champion! He came back from 0-2 down to defeat world number three Zverev! He is the first Xia Country men's tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles Champion! He has made history!"
Zhou Zhou's voice was also somewhat excited:
"From being down 0-2 to winning 3-2, this match showed that Cheng Che is not just a player who relies on talent. He has tactics, patience, and the ability to adjust. Most importantly, he has stamina that others don't have. That's what makes him so terrifying."
The live chat exploded.
[ Champion!!! Champion!!!]
[A comeback from 0-2 down to 3-2!!! What an incredible script!!!]
[The first male tennis player in Xia Country's history!!!]
Zverev played really well in the first two sets, but he ran into a stamina monster.
I almost turned off the TV when the score was 0-2, but luckily I didn't.
This is Grand Slam level competition; it made my heart race!
Cheng Che's final forehand winner was so cool!
From qualifying wildcard to Master Champion, from Master Champion to Grand Slam Champion
[This is what you call an extraordinary life]
In the stands, four girls stood up simultaneously from four different seats.
Pei Jingshu, Su Qingyue, Yan Ruanning, and Su Miaoyin, though in different directions and separated by thousands of seats, moved in the same way at this moment.
They stood up, cupped their hands around their mouths, and shouted the same name in unison.
" Cheng Che!!!"
Four sounds exploded simultaneously from four directions, piercing through the noise of the entire stadium, colliding and twisting into one.
The people around them were infected by their enthusiasm and stood up to shout along.
One, two, ten, dozens—the sound waves spread out from four points, merging into one.
" Cheng Che!!!"
" Cheng Che!!!"
" Cheng Che!!!"
As Cheng Che listened to the cheers from the crowd, he closed his eyes and savored the glory of the moment.
The system panel also quietly appeared.
[ Stamina Trial - Stage 5: All Other Mountains Look Small. Final Goal: Champion one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. Current Progress: 1/1. Completed!]