In the fourth set, Cheng Che stood behind the baseline, and his aura was completely different from the first three sets.
He no longer hesitated, no longer tested the waters.
Lu Yunxiao moved before the ball even left his hand for every serve.
He was in position beforehand, his racket waiting there as if he were waiting for a question whose answer he already knew.
Lu Yunxiao serves.
Cheng Che moved ahead of time and hit a straight shot with his forehand.
Lu Yunxiao had just reached his position when the ball flew past him.
"Fifteen to zero."
Lu Yunxiao changed his angle and shot from the outside.
Cheng Che moved to the side and unleashed a powerful diagonal shot with his backhand, scoring right on the line.
"Thirty to zero."
Lu Yunxiao's coach shouted something from the sidelines, but he didn't hear it.
He could only hear his own heartbeat, heavy and fast.
He served another ball, a very high-quality one, right on the sideline of the service court.
Cheng Che received the serve and launched an attack, hitting the ball back and landing it in the corner of Lu Yunxiao's backhand side.
"Forty to zero."
Lu Yunxiao stood there, watching the ball roll away, his chest heaving like a bellows.
He'd played basketball for ten years, and never before had a game made him feel so powerless.
He felt like he wasn't playing against an eighteen-year-old, but against a predictive machine.
Cheng Che had seen through all his habits and all his choices in advance.
The fourth set ended 6-2.
Cheng Che won.
During the break, Lu Yunxiao sat in a chair with a towel draped over his head.
His coach crouched down beside him, his voice low. "He's figured out your playing style. You have to change. You have to change even if you're not good at it."
Lu Yunxiao smiled.
That smile was bitter.
He'd been playing basketball for ten years, and this was the first time he'd had to do something he wasn't good at.
He suddenly remembered when he was fourteen, the provincial team coach patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Your greatest strength is your steadiness. Your greatest weakness is also that you're too steadfast."
He initially thought it was a compliment.
Now he realized it was a prophecy.
He nodded, stood up, and walked back to the baseline.
The fifth round begins.
Cheng Che served first.
On his first serve, he hit an inside ace, and the ball speed was almost 30 kilometers per hour faster than in the first set!
Lu Yunxiao didn't move.
"Fifteen to zero."
The second ball, ACE in the outside corner.
"Thirty to zero."
The third serve is a body serve.
Lu Yunxiao managed to block the shot, Cheng Che volleyed it from the net, but the ball hit Lu Yunxiao's back.
"Forty to zero."
The fourth ball was another inside ace.
Lu Yunxiao still didn't move.
He stood there, watching the ball fly past, then looked down at his hands; his palms were sweaty.
In the commentary booth, Lin Yan's voice was already somewhat out of control.
" Lu Yunxiao's movement has noticeably slowed down. His footwork can't keep up with Cheng Che's pace. In the first game of the fifth set, Cheng Che held serve with four aces, and Lu Yunxiao didn't even touch a single ball."
Zhou Zhou chimed in, her voice also tinged with excitement:
"Starting from the latter half of the third set, Cheng Che seemed like a completely different player. His predictive ability was terrifying; he seemed to know the landing point of every single return from Lu Yunxiao in advance."
In the stands, Lu Yunxiao's fans covered their faces.
Some people lowered their heads, unable to bear watching any longer.
Cheng Che's fans all stood up, holding up banners and chanting his name.
" Cheng Che! Cheng Che! Cheng Che!"
"Go, honey!!"
"You're the best--!!"
Several girls hugged each other excitedly, their eyes red, but their voices rang out so loudly they echoed throughout the entire stadium.
Some people nearby covered their ears from the shock, but they didn't care.
They looked at the boy on the court as if he were a rising star.
In the second game, Lu Yunxiao serves.
He stood behind the baseline and slammed the ball to the ground several times.
His hands were shaking. He took a deep breath, tossed the ball, and swung his racket.
The ball speed was nearly 20 kilometers per hour slower than in the first set.
Cheng Che went to meet him and hit a long cross-court shot with his forehand. Lu Yunxiao took two steps, and the ball flew past his racket.
"Fifteen to zero."
For the second ball, Lu Yunxiao went all out.
He used all his strength to serve an outside shot, and the ball speed finally picked up.
Cheng Che moved two steps to the side and then drew a straight line with a single backhand shot.
Lu Yunxiao lunged forward, extending his racket as far as it could go.
We ran into each other.
But the ball bounced up and flew into the sky!
Cheng Che charged up from the baseline, jumped up, and delivered a powerful spike!
The ball hit Lu Yunxiao behind him and bounced three meters high.
"Thirty to zero."
Lu Yunxiao stood still, his hands supporting his knees.
He was breathing heavily, and sweat dripped from his chin onto the ground, forming a small puddle.
He couldn't keep up with his pace; his body had reached its limit.
But his eyes still held a struggle.
Lu Yunxiao serves the third ball.
He tossed the ball and swung his racket. The ball's speed wasn't fast, and the angle wasn't tricky.
Cheng Che went up to meet the ball, and with a forehand stroke, the ball landed on the sideline.
"Forty to zero."
On the fourth point, Lu Yunxiao serves, but commits a double fault.
Cheng Che breaks serve. Score 2-0.
The screen was flooded with comments.
[ Lu Yunxiao is finished. His physical strength has collapsed.]
Cheng Che's stamina is outrageous. He played five sets and looked even more relaxed than in the first.
[That's talent. Lu Yunxiao played for ten years, Cheng Che practiced for a few months. The one who practiced for a few months completely overwhelmed the one who had played for ten years.]
[ Lu Yunxiao had a tough time. He actually played very well, but he ran into Cheng Che.]
[Starting from the fourth set, Lu Yunxiao didn't score a single point. This wasn't a technical issue anymore; his body couldn't keep up.]
In the third game, Cheng Che serves.
He did not issue any more ACEs.
He served an outside shot; the landing point wasn't particularly tricky, but the ball speed was very fast.
Lu Yunxiao received the serve and returned the ball to the middle.
Cheng Che stepped forward and unleashed a powerful diagonal shot with his forehand.
The ball landed a few centimeters inside the sideline. Lu Yunxiao ran two steps but couldn't reach it.
"Fifteen to zero."
On the second serve, Cheng Che delivered a cross-court shot.
Lu Yunxiao blocked the ball, but it went too shallow. Cheng Che went to the net and volleyed.
The ball hit Lu Yunxiao behind him.
"Thirty to zero."
On the third ball, Cheng Che served an inside corner.
Lu Yunxiao received the serve and launched an attack, hitting a forehand down the line.
That was his best shot of the entire game.
It has a tricky angle, high speed, and deep landing point.
In any match, this would be a winning point.
But Cheng Che caught up with him.
He moved three steps to the side and pulled out his DSLR camera.
The racket makes a very slight rotation at the moment of contact with the ball, and the ball flies over the net with a strong sidespin, landing in the corner of Lu Yunxiao's forehand side.
Lu Yunxiao lunged forward, extending his racket to its limit, his fingertips almost touching the ball.
I didn't encounter it.
The ball lands, bounces, and rolls far away.
"Forty to zero."
The entire room fell silent for a moment.
Then it exploded with a "boom".
In the commentary booth, Lin Yan's voice was trembling:
"On this point, Lu Yunxiao hit his best forehand of the match, but Cheng Che caught up! And he returned an even more tricky shot! This shot would be considered a top-level defensive counter-attack even in professional matches! Lu Yunxiao had already played his best tennis, but Cheng Che told him: Even your best shot can't beat me."
Zhou Zhou continued, her voice trembling slightly:
"That's the most despairing part. Lu Yunxiao gave it his all, unleashing one of the best forehands of his career. Then Cheng Che hit a one-handed backhand, sending the ball back to the corner of the sideline. This kind of dominance is even more suffocating than an ace."
In the stands, Lu Yunxiao's fans had already lowered their heads.
Some people covered their faces, while others had tears in their eyes.
Cheng Che's fans all stood up, holding up banners and chanting his name.
In the fourth game, Lu Yunxiao served. Cheng Che broke serve again. 4-0.
In the fifth game, Cheng Che held serve, making it 5-0.
Lu Yunxiao stood behind the baseline, panting heavily.
He looked up and glanced at Cheng Che across from him.
The eighteen-year-old boy stood behind the baseline, his center of gravity slightly lowered, his breathing steady, and only a thin layer of sweat on his forehead.
His eyes were clear, devoid of any extraneous emotions; he was simply waiting for the next ball.
Lu Yunxiao suddenly remembered what he had said to Cheng Che before the competition.
"You rely too much on your talent. There are so many talented people in this world, but they're all behind me."
He thought he was giving a lesson to a younger colleague.
Now he realizes that he was setting a goal for himself.
Cheng Che's talent far surpasses his.
In the sixth game, Lu Yunxiao finally held his serve.
The score became five to one.
He stood behind the baseline, panting heavily, gripping his racket tightly.
This was his last vestige of dignity.
At least win one game.
But Cheng Che didn't give him any more chances, just like in the matches against Zhu Junchi, Wu Hao, and Chen Bai; he wouldn't give them any opportunities.
In the seventh game, Cheng Che serves.
An ace from the outside corner.
"Fifteen to zero."
Immediately afterwards, a forehand diagonal shot pressed down on the line.
"Thirty to zero."
The next ball, a body serve followed by a volley at the net.
"Forty to zero."
The final point.
Cheng Che stood behind the baseline and slammed the ball to the ground twice.
He looked up and glanced at Lu Yunxiao across from him.
He was bent over, his hands supporting his knees, his chest heaving violently.
But he did not give up.
He adjusted the strings, then bent down, his eyes fixed on Cheng Che's hands.
Even if he loses, he will lose using the same receiving technique.
Cheng Che felt a touch of respect in his heart.
Now that the main competition has progressed this far, all the players will fight with all their might until the very last moment.
Such a player deserves his full effort.
Giving it your all is the only way to respect the athletes!
He tossed the ball, jumped, and swung his racket.
An inside corner ace.
The ball hit the service area, bounced, and flew directly towards the advertising boards.
Lu Yunxiao made a desperate save!
Snap!
He fell to the ground, watching the ball fly past in confusion, then smiled with relief.
The referee announces the final score.
Seven to six, four to six, six to four, six to two, six to one.
Cheng Che... won!
The entire audience rose to their feet and applauded.
The female fans in the stands hugged each other, their tears and laughter mingling together.
Some people held up banners that read " Cheng Che," some held their phones above their heads to record videos, and some pushed their way forward in the crowd just to catch a glimpse of him.
" Cheng Che! Cheng Che! Cheng Che!"
Their shouts were like ocean waves, one after another, and they just wouldn't stop.
In the commentary booth, Lin Yan remained silent for several seconds before speaking.
His voice was somewhat hoarse, carrying an indescribable sense of emotion:
"We originally thought that Lu Yunxiao would defeat Cheng Che and then sweep the Champion, gaining popularity and traffic."
"But the result was completely different from what we expected. Cheng Che is too strong. He not only won, but in the last three sets, he didn't let Lu Yunxiao score a single point. His anticipation, his physical strength, and his mental fortitude all surpassed the limits of his age. He is simply a future star of tennis. The Champion seemed to be within his grasp."
Zhou Zhou continued:
"Since the qualifiers, Cheng Che has played eight matches, winning all eight. Five of those matches resulted in shutouts. This kind of dominance is rare in any professional tournament."
Some people in the live chat disagreed.
[Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration? He's only played a few matches and already Champion? There are still other competitors to come.]
[ Lu Yunxiao's stamina is lacking; if it were someone else, Cheng Che might not have been able to win.]
[Agreed, but don't overpraise.]
But soon, someone replied.
Are there any remaining contestants stronger than Lu Yunxiao?
The chat fell silent.
Several seconds passed before someone finally posted a message.
[... It seems... there really aren't any left.]
Then, a comment appeared on the screen:
Are we watching a new king ascend the throne?
In the stands, Yan Ruanning watched the boy on the field, and the corners of her mouth slowly curved into a smile.
She didn't speak, but her eyes were frighteningly bright.
As she looked at the boy surrounded by the crowd on the court, a thought slowly surfaced in her mind.
Su Jianqiu whispered teasingly from the side, "Even happier than if you Champion the competition yourself?"
Yan Ruanning, unusually, did not refute, but nodded slightly.
Su Jianqiu was stunned for a moment upon seeing this, feeling as if she had tasted candy again; it was so sweet.
In the stands not far away, Su Qingyue stood up and clapped, her hands turning red from the effort.
She clapped so hard her hands went numb.
I don't know why, but my nose feels a little sore.
Father Su sat beside his daughter, looked at her, smiled helplessly, and clapped his hands.
On the court, Cheng Che walked to the net.
Lu Yunxiao also came over.
His steps were slow, each one feeling like he was walking on cotton.
The two shook hands.
Lu Yunxiao's palms were sweaty and had scratches.
He gave a wry smile, "I told you before the match that you relied too much on talent."
"You played very well," Cheng Che said.
"I misspoke." Lu Yunxiao released his grip and looked at him. "Your talent is your strength. I only realized that today."
Cheng Che looked at him and nodded. "I look forward to fighting you again on the international stage."
Lu Yunxiao was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.
Cheng Che returned to the rest area, Qin Lie handed him a towel.
How are you feeling?
"Very good." Cheng Che wiped his sweat, his breathing steady. "This is the strongest player I've ever faced in tennis."
Qin Lie looked at him, then suddenly smiled and said, "The organizers want Lu Yunxiao to devour your popularity and reach the top."
"But who knew you weren't the challenger, he was."
"This is the final. If you keep it up, the Champion is within your grasp."
Cheng Che smiled but didn't reply.
He glanced at the Stamina Trial task on the system panel and thought to himself:
The task will be completed very soon!
I haven't grown up for too long... far too long!