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

Chapter 425 So I'm the villain after all?!

"Depend on--!!!"

A roar erupted from Zhang Jiahao's throat.

The shockwave made Xie Mingyang and Lin Shidong, who were standing nearby, hear a ringing in their ears.

Zhang Jiahao clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and stared intently at the field, his eyes practically spitting fire.

"Are you trying to force me to use my trump card?!"

His words seemed to be forced out from between his teeth.

Xie Mingyang's reaction, though not as intense and exaggerated as Zhang Jiahao's, was still slightly furrowed.

"2:8..."

Xie Mingyang looked at Chen Jin and said, "As long as he doesn't lose his composure, I believe Chen Jin will definitely be able to catch up."

VIP viewing area.

front row.

Liu Guoliang, Qin Zhijian, Li Xun, and others frowned, their expressions serious.

"Hugo had way too much luck today."

Qin Zhijian's voice was low and tinged with helplessness, "One after another, it's just bizarre."

The score difference is secondary.

The key is that these consecutive lucky shots can be fatally destructive to a young player's mentality.

Especially that flying slam attack just now, which I thought was a sure kill, was blocked by Hugo and grazed the edge.

The huge disappointment of falling short of expectations would inevitably cause any top player to experience a mental breakdown.

Moreover, Chen Jin was only sixteen years old, and this was his first time standing on a stage like the World Cup final.

His youthful vigor may help him overcome obstacles.

However, he can also lose his edge if he encounters a sudden setback.

Liu Guoliang crossed his arms, leaned forward slightly, and stared intently at the straight back of the young man in the center of the arena, his gaze calm as a deep pool.

It was as if she wanted to convey her willpower through her gaze.

"Luck is also part of the game."

Liu Guoliang said in a calm voice, "It all depends on whether Chen Jin's mentality will be affected."

For Chen Jin, this was undoubtedly a test and an opportunity for growth.

If we can successfully overcome this challenge, we will surely undergo another transformation.

From then on, no one could stop them.

xuperman's live stream.

Cheng Jingqi was also struggling to breathe from Hugo's series of lucky balls.

As a professional player, putting myself in Chen Jin's shoes, even though I was just watching from the sidelines, I could still empathize with him and my mindset was slightly affected.

"How many net or edge shots have there been so far in the third set?"

Cheng Jingqi frowned and said, "It's only because Chen Jin has a good temper. If it were me, I probably would have smashed the racket long ago."

"Hugo's luck this round is ridiculously good, like he's being protected by destiny, just like in a novel."

"The score difference is too big, Chen Jin's chances in this game are probably slim."

Trailing 2-8, the opponent also had a stroke of luck.

Turning the tide is easier said than done.

However, Chen Jin was in a large lead, so even if he lost a game, it wouldn't be a big problem.

After a short rest, they can regroup. If it comes down to sheer strength, Hugo is clearly no match for Chen Jin.

"The key is mindset."

Xu Xin rested his chin on his hands, his expression serious, his usual jovial demeanor gone. "This is what I'm most worried about right now."

Hopefully, Chen Jin's mentality won't be affected by this lucky shot.

He knew all too well how devastating a lucky shot could be to an athlete's mentality in the final of such an important competition.

When victory points that should have been yours are ruthlessly snatched away by loopholes, even the most resilient nerves will crack under such repeated tearing.

The poisonous sting of doubt quietly grows and pierces deep into the heart.

—Is this truly the will of Heaven?
—Has fate already written the script, destined me to become the final stepping stone for my rival to ascend the throne?

more importantly.

Chen Jin had never lost a previous match.

It felt like a shackle.

If Chen Jin can maintain his momentum, defeat Hugo, and win the championship, everyone will be happy.

But if you lose a game due to bad luck, it can affect your mindset, and the outcome becomes unpredictable.

The key point is that the only pause was already used.

Next, I won't be able to use the pause to adjust my mindset.

Wang Hao's off-court coaching role also became ineffective before the end of the third game.

Right now, the only option is for Chen Jin to make adjustments on the field.

The rest area on the sidelines.

Wang Hao suddenly stood up, clapped his hands vigorously, and shouted loudly at Chen Jin's back, "Hold on!"

"It's okay, take your time!"

"Take it one ball at a time, chase it point by point!"

Believe in yourself, you can do it!

Chen Jin stood in front of the table tennis table, holding his racket, head slightly bowed, his chest heaving violently.

Sweat trickled down his cheeks.

Close your eyes gently.

When he opened his eyes again, the turbulent waves surging deep within them had been forcibly suppressed by an even deeper force.

Take a deep breath.

His lips moved as if he were talking to himself.

Back in the Rio Olympics, Ma Long was also in a difficult situation, trailing Jung Young-sik 0-2, but eventually turned the tide and won the Grand Slam.

At the Paris Olympics, Fan Zhendong was also pushed to the brink of elimination by Tomokazu Harimoto with a score of 2-0.

"When God wants to give a man a great responsibility, he must first make his heart and mind suffer..."

This statement may sound a bit cliché.

However, this was subsequently confirmed in the cases of Ma Long and Fan Zhendong.

"wrong!"

Chen Jin suddenly realized something, "The one trailing 0-2 isn't me, it's Hugo!"

"Sigh~"

"Could it be that God's script is... to let Hugo step on me to reach the top?"

"So, I'm the villain?!"

Thoughts flashed through.

But instead, it ignited the deep-seated resentment and arrogance in his blood.

Initially, his mentality was somewhat shaken by the successive lucky balls, but it vanished in an instant in the face of his burning fighting spirit.

"script?"

Chen Jin suddenly looked up, his gaze like a sharp, tempered blade, piercing through the air and aimed directly at his lucky opponent across the table. "If such a thing really exists, I'll tear it apart with my own hands today!"

An overwhelming and unstoppable aura suddenly erupted from the boy's seemingly frail body.

It was as if the ancient dragon of the void had suddenly awakened, and its domineering and ferocious aura instantly swept across the entire arena.

Hugo, standing opposite him, clearly felt this sudden surge of power.

I couldn't help but look up.

The moment I met that sharp gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

The fingers gripping the racket tightened suddenly.

"Whoo~"

Hugo withdrew his gaze and composed himself.

Bend your knees slightly and bend over.

Throw the small white ball in your hand high into the air above your head.

Under the light.

The ping-pong ball traced a bright silver arc, pausing slightly at its highest point.

Then, it began to fall.

Hugo's waist and abdomen tensed instantly, the power transmitted from the soles of his feet, his arms swung, his wrists deft, a flick and a press.

"laugh!"

The racket precisely cuts the ball to the upper side of its side.

The white ball, with a strong sideways curve and upward arch, headed straight for Chen Jin's right side of the table.

Just as Hugo's racket touched the ball.

With lightning speed, Chen Jin pushed off with his foot, anticipated the trajectory, and seized the landing point.

The right leg is thrust forward, lowering the center of gravity.

Lower your shoulders and raise your elbows.

Wrist tucked inward.

"laugh!"

At the moment of contact with the ball, the fingers and wrist exert force with explosive power.

The racket rubs against the ball, producing a sharp hiss.

No one can describe the speed of Chen Jin's twist, nor can anyone describe the rotation of that twist.

It was like the sword light shining from the top of the Forbidden City.

It was like the flying knife that Li Xunhuan threw.

Tearing through the air, carrying the scent of death, it shot towards Hugo's forehand baseline corner.

fast!
quasi!
ruthless!
Hugo's pupils suddenly contracted.

The moment Chen Jin made his twisting and pulling move, he seemed to have anticipated it, and like a cheetah, he pounced on the forehand, attempting to counter-pull.

However, the quality of this ball exceeded Hugo's expectations.

The instant the ball hits the table.

The side turn is strong.

Although Hugo's footwork was on point, he underestimated Chen Jin's twisting and pulling ability.

I missed the target point, hit the edge of the paddle, and the ball flew out of bounds at an angle.

8: 3.

"Wow—"

The audience erupted in cheers.

On the sidelines, Wang Hao, who was tense all over, suddenly jumped up from his seat, clenched his fists, and swung them vigorously, his veins bulging.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

Wang Hao clapped his hands vigorously and shouted, "Keep fighting like this, stay focused!"

"trust yourself!"

Hugo straightened up, flicked his wrist, and a serious look flashed across his brow.

His gaze shifted, glancing at Chen Jin.

Seeing the boy's imposing presence, her gaze grew even calmer.

With a huge lead in the score, Hugo was naturally not intimidated by this one goal.

However, he also knew that his lead in this game was due to lucky shots.

Luck is a mysterious thing. Moreover, with Chen Jin's strength, if he relaxes even slightly, he could be turned around and lose.

Therefore, we dare not be careless in the slightest.

"We can't let him gain momentum!"

"We must find a way to continue applying pressure!"

Think about this.

Hugo already had a plan in mind.

Hold the ball in your left palm and gently toss it upwards with a steady wrist.

The serving motion appears to be no different from the previous serve.

It's still a high throw.

But, at the moment of impact.

Hugo's arm, holding the racket, suddenly slowed its movement, and with a sharp flick of his wrist, he unleashed a burst of power.

"Break!"

The ball moved with lightning speed, hurtling towards Chen Jin's center baseline.

Fortunately, Chen Jin kept a close eye on things.

The reaction was incredibly fast.

My body almost instinctively took a half step back, while lowering my center of gravity, preparing for a powerful backhand swing.

However, Lady Luck was on Hugo's side once again.

The long ball is fast and high, heading straight for the baseline of the table.

The ping-pong ball hit the edge of the white side and plummeted downwards in a sharp arc.

Chen Jinyuan intended to launch a counter-attack, but this slight, unpredictable change of direction caused his prediction and adjustment to fail instantly.

There wasn't enough time to adjust the power plate shape.

He could only watch helplessly as the white ball, at an extremely awkward angle, grazed the edge of his racket and bounced away, landing far outside the boundary.

3: 9.

"Depend on--!!!"

Not only the audience at the scene, but even Xu Xin in the live broadcast room couldn't help but slam his hand on the table with a loud bang, "It's just barely avoiding the mark again!"

"Just when Chen Jin was about to gain momentum, another lucky shot came!"

"It's purely a mental exercise!"

at the same time.

The live stream chat exploded instantly.

The screen is filled with "????".

"How many lucky balls is this? I'm seriously impressed."

"Hugo's luck is incredible."

"Chen Jin, hold on!"

……

Cheng Jingqi, standing next to him, also looked grim, barely suppressing the urge to swear.

"Chen Jin, hold on!"

Cheng Jingqi clenched his fists, a hint of tension in his expression. "If we can make the most of the next two serves, we still have a chance..."

The huge point difference stood before us like a cold, iron wall.

The opponent's incredible luck was like a dark tide, surging with despair.

Every approach, every exertion of force, was neutralized by the opponent's luck.

Chen Jin remained expressionless, reached out and grasped the ping-pong ball thrown by the referee, and stood on the left side of the table, turning slightly to the side.

He habitually twirled it and blew on it.

Bend your knees slightly and bend over.

He gently tossed the ball up with his left hand, reaching a height far exceeding his usual height.

The body's center of gravity rises accordingly.

Extend your right arm and raise it, relax your wrist, and place the racket naturally behind your right side.

"what?"

Xu Xin raised an eyebrow. "Chen Jin has changed his serve."

In previous matches, Chen Jin's serves were mostly hook shots.

Now, however, it has been changed to a forehand serve.

Moreover, it was a high-angle throw.

Upon witnessing Chen Jin's serving posture, Cheng Jingqi's eyes widened: "Is this... Coach Ma channeling his inner Ma?"

"What's wrong with fellow disciples using the same moves?"

Xu Xin stared intently at the live stream.

Although the moves are the same, the lethality also matters.

On the playing field.

Hugo was on high alert when Chen Jin suddenly changed his serve.

After all, he hadn't received Chen Jin's forehand serve yet, so it was difficult for him to judge the spin.

His eyes were like torches, watching Chen Jin's every move.

But just as Chen Jin touched the ball, he gently lifted his wrist upwards.

Like a dragonfly skimming the water, it is so small as to be barely perceptible.

But Hugo's eyesight was so sharp that he saw it clearly.

"Upspin?"

Hugo's nerves tightened instantly.

My body shifted forward instinctively, my hands already prepared to twist and pull the lever.

"wrong!"

"It might be a feint!"

"Backspin?"

Two drastically different predictions about the rotation clashed violently in his mind, and hesitation entwined him like a poisonous vine.

Between the electric light and flint.

The ball has flown right in front of us.

Without a second thought, Hugo gritted his teeth, tucked his wrist inward, and slightly pressed down on the board.

The instant the ball touches the ground.

"Oops!"

Alarm bells were ringing in Hugo's mind: "A feint! It's a backspin!"

However, it was too late to adjust the wrist.

The twisting and pulling action was originally designed for upward rotation.

When facing a backspin ball, the racket angle and the direction of force are completely wrong.

laugh!
The ping-pong ball slammed down hard.

Eat, turn, crash into the net.

4: 9.

Chen Jin scored.

"Pretty!"

Xu Xin slapped his thigh suddenly, "Hugo was receiving Chen Jin's forehand high toss serve for the first time, he didn't have much experience, and he was fooled by Chen Jin's feint."

"There's one more serve."

Cheng Jingqi looked slightly nervous. "We must make sure we can take it down safely."

While talking.

Chen Jin continues serving.

Still a forehand high toss.

The posture and movements were almost identical to the previous serve, as if they were copied and pasted.

Even the final feint was exactly the same.

More importantly, unlike some people's polite serves, Chen Jin's serves are extremely clean.

Hugo still struggled to determine the rotation.

"Upspin?"

"Backspin?"

"Not going to repost?"

Hugo was completely focused. "Listen to the sound, look at the arc, it should be a backspin."

"This time it shouldn't be wrong."

"Hmm? That arc... it's a forehand half-outside shot!"

Hugo's eyes suddenly lit up.

Without hesitation, his body weight shifted violently forward, his right foot stepped forward with lightning speed to block the movement, and his entire right arm, like a bowstring taut with power, suddenly plummeted downwards.

Once the ball falls off the table, he intends to add a high loop.

He wanted to take advantage of Chen Jin's half-table backspin shot, pull out a low, spinning, and tricky high lob, and completely suppress Chen Jin's next shot.

however.

Just as they were about to make their move, a sudden change occurred.

The ball lands on the table, bounces on the first bounce, and appears to be about to fly off the table on the second bounce.

For a top-tier expert like Hugo, his judgment would not have been wrong.

But then something completely unbelievable happened.

Just as the ping-pong ball was about to fall off the table, its arc in mid-air suddenly veered sharply to the right.

It barely touches the white edge of the end line, and doesn't jump out of bounds on the second attempt.

What's even weirder is.

The ping-pong ball bounced along the white edge, repeatedly, before bouncing back.

"What?!"

Hugo's pupils dilated to their limit, filled with astonishment and disbelief.

The racket was swung out, but all it caught was a patch of cold air.

The predicted landing point was empty.

The small white ball was spinning and bouncing back strangely before finally landing on the side of the table beside Chen Jin.

Dead!

The entire venue seemed to have been muted.

Countless eyes were focused on the bouncing ball, filled with bewilderment and awe.

next second.

The cheers erupted like a volcano.

"Pretty!"

Xu Xin slapped the table in admiration, "Hugo, do you recognize this move, 'Flying Swallow Returns to its Nest'?"

The live stream chat was flooded with comments.

"Such a clean serve."

"I never knew a serve could be so clear."

"See that? That's a really good serve."

……

(End of this chapter)