Table tennis: Swinging the racket billions of times, achieving a grand slam

Chapter 417 One Against Three! The Unstoppable Hugo!

VIP viewing area.

The atmosphere was heavy, like a gloomy sky.

Liu Guoliang sat there, his face ashen, his lips tightly pressed together, and his brows furrowed so deeply they seemed to be dripping with sweat.

"Hugo..."

As he uttered the name in a low voice, Liu Guoliang's tone still carried a hint of disbelief, "Today, you look like a supermodel."

Although Lin Shidong had a lower win rate in his previous encounters with Hugo.

However, to a large extent, it is also because Lin Shidong is too young and lacks competition experience.

After this period of experience, and having even beaten Hugo last year, it was thought that Lin Shidong would have a high probability of winning.

Unexpectedly, Lin Shidong lost so completely.

Especially in the last two rounds, Hugo completely overwhelmed them.

The pre-tournament ambition of "sweeping all four semi-finalists" was unexpectedly shattered by this Brazilian who emerged from nowhere, leaving a huge gaping hole in their plans.

Hugo's advancement to the semifinals means that his opponent in the next round will be Wang Chuqin.

Given Wang Chuqin's strength, can he easily defeat Hugo, who is in such a hot form?
Liu Guoliang felt a vague sense of unease.

Sitting next to him, Qin Zhijian seemed to sense the worry in Liu Guoliang's heart.

"Big Head has a record of four wins and one loss against Hugo, giving him a clear advantage."

Qin Zhijian spoke with unwavering confidence, “Last year at the World Cup, Da Tou also beat Hugo.”

"We should be able to secure Hugo tomorrow without much trouble."

However, Qin Zhijian's words clearly did not soothe the unease that lingered in Liu Guoliang's heart.

"Competitive sports, the past is the past, and cannot be generalized to the present."

Liu Guoliang shook his head and said, "Hugo is in top form right now, his touch is red-hot, and it's tough for anyone to beat him."

"Moreover, what I want is not that it's not a big problem, but that I must win it."

This statement came out.

Qin Zhijian fell silent immediately.

Where is Wang Chuqin?

Liu Guoliang stood up. "I'm going to find him and have a good talk with him."

Having finished speaking.

He strode away from the spectator area, his back view carrying the heavy pressure of an impending storm.

Qin Zhijian and Li Xun exchanged a glance.

Without needing to say more, the two naturally understood why Liu Guoliang was in such a hurry.

The upper half of the zone is now a civil war.

The spot in the finals has been secured.

The only exception is the second half of the draw, which has become somewhat unpredictable due to Hugo's appearance.

in the audience.

Zhang Jiahao's emotions remained unsettled for a long time: "Brother Stone actually lost."

"Brother Guozi is really fierce this time, defeating Zhang Ben and Brother Shitou in succession."

"I can't even imagine what it would be like if we beat Wang Chuqin again tomorrow."

It's worth noting that these three individuals are ranked fourth, third, and second in the world, respectively.

If Hugo can truly win three consecutive matches and advance to the finals, the significance of his achievement is self-evident.

"As long as Wang Chuqin doesn't make any mistakes, he should be able to win tomorrow's match."

Xie Mingyang said.

Although he didn't have a good impression of Wang Chuqin, he still acknowledged Wang Chuqin's strength.

"What if we make a mistake?"

Zhang Jiahao raised an eyebrow. "With Wang Chuqin's terrible forehand, he'll probably have to rely on his unparalleled first-hand technique to beat Hugo."

"Cough cough."

Chen Jin said in a low voice, "Don't say things that are detrimental to unity."

Zhang Jiahao stuck out his tongue and then fell silent.

……

The next day, August 4th.

3:10 PM.

Galaxy Arena, Men's Singles Semifinals.

Wang Chuqin vs. Hugo Calderano.

The venue was packed.

VIP viewing area.

Coaches Liu Guoliang, Qin Zhijian, Li Xun, Liu Zhiqiang, and other members were all present, their faces solemn, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Chen Jin, Zhang Jiahao, Xie Mingyang, Lin Shidong, Huang Youzheng, and others also appeared backstage in the stands, their expressions solemn and their gazes focused.

The atmosphere was tense and frozen; a major battle was imminent.

The last time Wang Chuqin and Hugo faced off was during last year's World Cup.

The same location, the same event, a year later, we meet again.

Both players have shown significant changes in their skills, tactics, and mentality compared to last year.

Hugo was undoubtedly the challenger, with a more peaceful mindset, and he was ready to take the plunge.

In contrast, Wang Chuqin has transformed into a leading figure in men's table tennis, and the pressure he faces is now incomparable to what it used to be.

Moreover, for Wang Chuqin, this World Cup is an opportunity to prove himself; he can only win, not lose.

The first game started.

Having not faced each other for a long time, both sides were testing each other in the first few balls.

My hands weren't warmed up, so I made too many mistakes.

The score remained close, alternating between close and close.

The score remained deadlocked until 10:10.

11: 11.

12: 12.

At a crucial moment, Hugo, despite being on the defensive, managed to cut a shot and change the rhythm of the game.

Wang Chuqin once again demonstrated the true value of his "King's Explosive Sprint," smashing the ball to the edge of the board and losing a point.

Then, Wang Chuqin served.

After Hugo's short push, he followed up with a backhand drive.

Immediately afterwards, another board was torn apart.

Wang Chuqin missed a shot with his forehand.

14: 12.

Hugo took the first point.

The start was unfavorable, and the atmosphere in the VIP area suddenly became even more tense.

Fortunately, Wang Chuqin was not completely stunned by this sudden blow.

Moreover, Wang Hao was also there to oversee things from the sidelines.

Analyze the situation and adjust your mindset.

11: 5.

11: 6.

11: 7.

Wang Chuqin won three consecutive games, taking a 3-1 lead in the overall score.

A deafening cheer erupted from the stands.

The coaching staff breathed a sigh of relief.

"It should be stable now."

Liu Guoliang's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed, and a smile appeared on his lips.

It seems that my private conversation with Wang Chuqin yesterday, where I provided him with psychological counseling, was effective.

However, in the fifth game, the situation changed dramatically.

The last trace of hesitation and impatience in Hugo's eyes vanished, replaced by an almost frantic calm and resolve.

Like a wild beast driven to the brink of despair, unleashing its final and most terrifying ferocity.

Backhand topspin, side-step smash, close-to-the-table speed, and placement adjustment.

Every shot he took was driven by a do-or-die spirit, as if he were burning his life force.

The ball's speed was astonishing, and its power was extraordinary.

11: 7.

Hugo, under pressure, managed to turn the tide.

The score became 2-3.

In the sixth inning.

Hugo's condition only worsened.

His eyes burned with fervor, his aura was overwhelming, and he seemed to be enveloped in an invisible flame.

Backhand flicks and forehand smashes rained down on Wang Chuqin like a storm.

The accuracy of the landing point control is terrifying; it either hits the corner or follows the body.

Wang Chuqin was somewhat dazed after being hit.

Although I tried to improve control and use short forehand shots to limit Hugo's attack.

But Hugo didn't buy into that at all, and when he forced his way in, his accuracy in close combat was still frighteningly high.

Facing Hugo's fierce competition, Wang Chuqin's own unnecessary mistakes also began to increase.

Especially under Hugo's aggressive attacks, the stability of his backhand fluctuated, and he even dared not flick the ball when receiving serves.

11: 5.

Hugo has won another victory.

The score is 3-3.

"Fuck!"

Zhang Jiahao's eyes widened. "Is Brother Guozi really that strong? He actually won two games in a row? Are we really going to get upset?"

"Want to flip it?"

Huang Youzheng said in a deep voice, "It shouldn't be that easy."

VIP viewing area.

The relaxed atmosphere that had just been created vanished completely.

Liu Guoliang suddenly straightened his back, his face turned ashen, and his hands on the armrests clenched into fists, his knuckles cracking.

Qin Zhijian and the others were also on edge, leaning forward with shock and anxiety in their eyes.

Despite leading 3-1, the opponent managed to win two consecutive games, forcing a deciding game.

Moreover, it happened in such a devastating and unreasonable way. How could this not be heartbreaking?
Decisive game.

The air had frozen.

Every point is incredibly important, and every ball is on everyone's nerves.

The score went back and forth, with each side chasing the other.

Wang Chuqin gritted his teeth and, with his tenacious will and decisive shots on crucial points, scored three consecutive points after the score was tied at 7-7.

10: 7.

They have three match points!

"Wang Chuqin! Wang Chuqin! Wang Chuqin!"

The entire stadium erupted in a deafening roar.

Almost everyone believed that the scales of victory had tipped in Wang Chuqin's favor once again.

The three match points are like three solid gates.

In the VIP area, Liu Guoliang's clenched fist relaxed slightly, and a spark of hope rekindled in his eyes.

Qin Zhijian was even preparing to get up.

However, at the very moment when victory was within reach, Hugo, who was backed to the edge of the cliff, had nowhere to retreat and his eyes revealed his sharp edge.

Deep within his eyes, a light of despair, madness, and an unyielding will shines through.

Wang Chuqin serves.

Short forehand, no spin.

Hugo cleaved the long central baseline.

Wang Chuqin lunged forward with a backhand thrust.

Anticipating the landing point, Hugo slid sideways at lightning speed and unleashed a powerful forehand smash.

8: 10.

Hugo serves.

The forehand is short and spins sideways.

Wang Chuqin flicked a cross-court shot with his backhand, aiming straight for Hugo's forehand corner.

The ball was very fast, but the angle was slightly too straight.

Hugo took a cross step, almost losing his balance, and then hit a forehand counter-attack down the line.

The ball, with a sharp whistling sound as it tore through the air, hurtled towards Wang Chuqin's right sideline.

Wang Chuqin made a desperate save, his racket barely grazing the edge of the ball.

9: 10.

Hugo continues to serve.

The middle path is short and doesn't turn.

Wang Chuqin stepped forward and swung his short sword.

Hugo's swing.

Wang Chuqin flicked the ball back with a reverse grip, and with a hiss, it bounced back off the net.

10: 10.

"Zhu--"

Hugo clenched his fists and let out a deafening roar.

Three match points!

He miraculously saved it.

Wang Chuqin stood there, his face turning pale instantly.

Three match points slipped through his fingers, and the immense disappointment and pressure overwhelmed him like a cold tide.

He subconsciously flicked his wrist, the movement carrying a hint of barely perceptible stiffness.

The serve returned to Wang Chuqin.

"Whoo~"

Wang Chuqin let out a long breath and did not choose to hook his hand.

Instead, he served a short forehand sideways topspin.

An attempt was made to limit Hugo's initiative in twisting and pulling.

However, perhaps due to fluctuations in mentality, or perhaps due to a loss of touch under physical limits, the serve was slightly hesitant.

The arc control resulted in a deviation.

She was actually a semi-prostitute.

In a duel between masters, how could such a mistake be tolerated?
opportunity!

Hugo's eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Like a cheetah, it pounced on the platform.

The body is fully extended, arms are pulled back, and power is accumulated.
next second.

All the power in his body erupted like a volcano in an instant.

"Snapped!"

The white ball transformed into a death beam that tore through space, hurtling toward the opponent's table with unparalleled speed and spin.

Judging from Hugo's movements, I thought he was going to unleash a powerful cross-court shot.

Wang Chuqin hurriedly returned to the defensive backhand position.

However, just as he was about to shift his weight, his center of gravity shifted.

A quick glance revealed that Hugo had flicked his wrist, heading straight for the target.

Wang Chuqin instinctively reached out to block.

Unfortunately, they were already out of position and the distance was too great.

歘——

After the ping-pong ball hit the table, it bounced away and landed far away in a corner of the court.

11: 10.

Hugo has reached match point.

In that instant, Wang Chuqin's heart seemed to sink into a cold abyss along with the ball that flew out of bounds.

The crucial point came during his own serve, yet he made such a fatal mistake.

Wang Chuqin wished he could slap himself.

Switch sides and serve.

Hugo stood in front of the pool table, his body rising and falling slightly.

Sweat streamed down his forehead, down his cheeks, and gathered at his chin.

His eyes were like a rock, and his left hand held the ball steadily, as if it were a heavy burden, or as if he held the power of life and death.

The entire stadium was deathly silent.

Countless tense gazes were focused on that small white ping-pong ball.

The ball was tossed high into the air, drawing a dazzling silver line under the lights.

Hugo lowered his center of gravity, and his backswing was not exaggerated.

However, the power accumulated in the forearm and wrist is like a spring compressed to its limit, suddenly released.

"laugh!"

The left half of the platform is shorter on the lower side.

Wang Chuqin pushed off with his foot, quickly stepped forward, thrust his left leg forward, lowered his shoulder and raised his elbow, twisting and pulling in a straight line.

Hugo reacted extremely quickly, sliding to gain position and counter-attacking down the middle with a forehand.

Wang Chuqin tore the diagonal lines in reverse.

Hugo leaped and dived to the backhand side, gripping the racket with both hands to save the ball.

Wang Chuqin unleashed a powerful forehand attack, dominating Hugo's left side of the table.

Hugo retreats to defend the table.

Wang Chuqin charged forward.

Hugo turned sideways and executed a forehand reverse loop.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

……

The two stood at mid-to-long range, exchanging forehand and backhand shots.

They remained locked in a stalemate for several rounds.

Sudden.

Hugo's variation, pulling back to the middle.

Wang Chuqin misjudged the situation, lost his footing, and hit the edge of the board.

"Whoosh—"

The ping-pong ball traced a desperate arc, soaring high into the air before falling off the table.

Dead silence.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The sound of the white ball hitting the ground was barely audible, yet it exploded like thunder in the deathly silent stadium.

12: 10.

The score is 4-3.

Hugo rallied from five match points to win the game, defeating Wang Chuqin and advancing to the final.

"Zhu--"

A roar, like that of an ancient behemoth, instantly tore through the frozen air.

Hugo fell to the ground, clutching his head tightly with both hands.

Then, he sprang up suddenly, opened his arms as if to embrace the whole world, and rushed wildly toward the coach on the sidelines.

Tears mingled with sweat, streaming down his face in ecstasy.

They hugged their coach tightly, slapping each other's backs hard, and roaring out their unbridled joy that no one could understand.

he made it!

After saving three match points, he scored five consecutive points in the deciding game when he was down 7-10.

He defeated Wang Chuqin, completing an incredible and stunning comeback.

He became the first person in the history of American table tennis to reach the World Cup final!

Before the tournament, who could have imagined that Brazil's table tennis team would advance to the World Cup finals before China's football team?

Moreover, Hugo has won three consecutive World Cups so far.

He defeated Zhang Benzhihe, the fourth-ranked player in the world, Lin Shidong, the third-ranked player, and Wang Chuqin, the second-ranked player!

The value is self-evident.

(End of this chapter)