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

Chapter 449 The competition is not over yet, how can we speak lightly of victory or defeat?

3: 9.

Chen Jin fell behind.

Such a passive and lopsided start is very rare in previous matches.

On the playing field.

Chen Jin took a deep breath.

Fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead and slid down his cheeks.

A vague sense of stagnation lingered, always present and impossible to shake off.

This feeling doesn't entirely come from the subtle difference in feel brought about by the spare racket.

It stems from the deep-seated gloom caused by the damaged racket that couldn't be completely dispelled.

Anger, confusion, worry... like background noise, interfered with his absolutely focused state of competition.

The stands, including the VIP viewing area.

Zhang Jiahao leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists, his palms sweaty, as if he were crushing the air in his hands.

My lips were pressed tightly together, and my throat was dry.

He, who is usually so talkative, didn't even dare to breathe loudly at this moment.

He was afraid that even the slightest noise he made would interfere with Chen Jin's performance in the competition.

Xie Mingyang crossed his arms and stared intently at the action on the field.

Although he tried his best to maintain his usual composure, his furrowed brows and slightly narrowed eyes revealed his inner turmoil.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that Chen Jin's rhythm in this game was a bit off.

The actions taken were not as decisive as before, and some unnecessary mistakes were frequently made... This is by no means a technical problem.

"Was it still affected?"

Xie Mingyang frowned.

His eyes, like two spotlights, followed Chen Jin closely.

Chen Jin's face remained expressionless as he silently put down his racket, turned and walked towards the referee's table, intending to pick up a towel to wipe his sweat.

Take this opportunity to focus your mind, calm down, and adjust your state of mind.

however.

He had only taken two steps.

The referee raises a white card: "Time out!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jin was taken aback.

He subconsciously turned around and looked towards the sidelines.

As expected, it was Wang Hao who called the timeout.

According to the competition rules, there is only one timeout opportunity per game.

Therefore, it is extremely valuable.

In many situations, it's like a strategic nuclear weapon; it won't be used lightly.

Unless it's a crucial game or point where a player is catching up or being caught up, there's no urgent need to adjust tactics and mindset.

In professional competitions, calling a timeout in the very first game is unheard of.

However, after weighing the pros and cons, Wang Hao still did it, and he had his reasons.

Wang Hao knew very well that with Chen Jin's strength, as long as he passed the first hurdle, the rest of the competition would be a natural outcome.

Knowing that there was indeed something wrong with his condition, Chen Jin did not refuse.

Pick up the towel and return to the sidelines.

Wang Hao had already stood up and was greeting Chen Jin, handing him the water bottle with the cap unscrewed.

"The fighting was a bit chaotic."

Wang Hao got straight to the point, speaking calmly without a trace of impatience or blame.

Chen Jin took the water, tilted his head back and took a swig, then listened quietly without saying a word.

"It's not that your technique is messed up; your fundamentals and strength are there, as solid as a mountain."

Wang Hao spoke quickly, but every word was clear: "It's your mind that's in turmoil, which affects your judgment. Many of the goals you lost were due to your own mistakes."

"At 1:4, that backhand crosscourt smash was a little hesitant. I didn't get the best point of contact, which allowed my opponent to get into position and wait for me."

"And that half-high ball at 2:7, I was too eager to exert force before I had even landed properly, and I made a mistake."

"It's not that your opponent played so well, it's that you lost your rhythm."

Wang Hao's analysis was incisive.

Chen Jin wiped his sweat as he listened silently.

Unlike the last time when Lin Shidong accidentally broke the racket, this time the racket damage has a slightly eerie feel to it.

He had no choice but to think it over.

At this moment.

Wang Hao bent down, took out a clean jersey from his backpack, and handed it to Chen Jin.

"Change into the clothes behind you."

Wang Hao said in a deep voice.

"!"

Chen Jin was somewhat surprised, but did as instructed.

In no time, he quickly took off his sweat-soaked jersey and changed into a new one.

The fabric is cool and breezy, clinging to the skin and providing a brief moment of coolness and comfort.

"Chen Jin, listen up."

Wang Hao put a hand on Chen Jin's shoulder, his eyes burning, "Changing our jerseys is like giving us a second chance at life."

"From now on, forget about the racket, forget about the 3:9 score, and treat it as a brand new match, starting afresh."

"It's only 3 to 9. With your ability, as long as you play one ball at a time and catch up point by point, you can completely turn it around."

Believe in yourself, you can do it!

"Your strength far surpasses your opponent's. As long as you stay focused, no one can stop you!"

The chicken soup smelled so good, it was irresistible.

Wang Hao didn't dwell on the technical details, but instead focused on the psychological aspects.

Although it may seem like a forced dose of motivational rhetoric, it is indeed very effective in situations like this.

"Whoo~"

Chen Jin let out a long breath.

Flames seemed to flicker in his suddenly raised eyes.

Reserved, yet passionate.

"understand!"

Chen Jin nodded vigorously.

The pause ends.

Handing the water bottle to Wang Hao, Chen Jin, with a towel in hand and a determined look in his eyes, walked back onto the field.

His steps became more steady, and his back straighter.

Just as he turned around.

In a relatively secluded corner of the stands, several rounds of applause and shouts suddenly rang out.

"Yellow banana—"

"Go home!"

……

"Yellow banana—"

"Go home!"

……

The venue was spacious, and the shouts were loud, echoing throughout the stadium.

Xie Mingyang turned his head sharply, his eyes as sharp as knives, and instantly locked onto the source of the sound.

Several blue-eyed, curly-haired men, huddled in the shadows at the back, shouted in unison towards the audience with mocking and provocative smiles.

Xie Mingyang's face immediately darkened.

The sky was overcast, as if a storm was about to break.

His gaze was icy, seemingly filled with a chilling killing intent, which coalesced into a sword, ready to be unleashed.

"what happened?"

Zhang Jiahao's foreign language skills are not very good, and he can't understand anything.

However, judging from Xie Mingyang's murderous look, it was clearly not something nice to say.

"What are those foreigners yelling about?"

Zhang Jiahao asked, "Are you cursing my brother Jin to be eliminated in the first round?"

Xie Mingyang immediately offered an explanation.

"Damn it, my ancestors are dead!"

Zhang Jiahao instantly flew into a rage.

A surge of hot blood rushed to the top of my head, almost blowing the top of my head off.

He suddenly stood up, turned his head, and glared angrily.

Then, he turned around.

Facing the field, he used all his strength to shout at the top of his lungs, until his voice was hoarse and exhausted.

"Chen Jin—"

"come on!"

"Team China—"

"come on!"

……

His shout was like a spark, instantly igniting the support of the fans at the scene who were rooting for Chen Jin.

They responded in unison.

"Chen Jin—"

"come on!"

Although there weren't many people, everyone shouted at the top of their lungs, and their voices combined to reverberate throughout the venue.

Like a massive army, they charged in to attack.

Instantly, those few piercing shouts were drowned out and swallowed up.

Chen Jin, who was about to go on stage, had obviously also heard those malicious provocations.

The movement paused slightly.

He did not look up at the stands.

But, he raised his chin and lifted his eyebrows.

Close your eyes and take a deep breath.

When he opened his eyes again, his previously calm, dark pupils seemed to be infused with new energy.

It is no longer restrained, but rather contains the immense power of thunder and lightning about to erupt.

A terrifying, invisible aura suddenly erupted from Chen Jin, like an ancient dragon suddenly awakening, and in an instant it filled the entire venue.

Zhang Jiahao seemed to see a twelve-foot-tall martial spirit, holding a racket in its left hand and a white ball in its right, hovering above Chen Jin's head like a guardian deity, its divine might awe-inspiring and domineering over the universe. "It's back!"

Zhang Jiahao's face was filled with barely suppressed excitement and joy, "My invincible Brother Jin is coming back!"

Across from the pool table.

Pitchford also felt the sudden surge of power emanating from Chen Jin, the pressure increasing dramatically, making him feel a chill run down his spine.

"Oops!"

Pitchford's heart skipped a beat. "Chen Jin is angry."

He turned and glared at the corner of the stands, a flash of anger in his eyes, "You bunch of orphans unloved by your mothers, I'm fucking done for!"

Now that things have come to this, he is powerless to stop it.

He consciously gripped the racket in his hand, his eyes becoming even more focused.

He had a premonition that the upcoming matches would be hellishly difficult.

"We must stop Chen Jin!"

Pitchford gritted his teeth, "We absolutely cannot let him turn this around!"

Leading 9-3, they held a huge advantage and victory in the first game seemed within reach.

If Chen Jin were to turn the tide and defeat them, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to their mentality.

Conversely, if they can win, their morale will be greatly boosted.

It's worth noting that since Chen Jin entered the international arena, very few foreign players have been able to win even a single game against him.

My mind hasn't changed.

"9:3."

The referee raised his hand to signal Pitchford to serve.

Reverse rotation.

Side down, forehand short.

"Let!"

Clean the net and resend.

Pitchford took a slight breath and served again with reverse spin.

But this time, he changed his landing point.

The ball lands short on the backhand side.

Chen Jin stepped forward and quickly chopped diagonally.

This slash is long and has an extremely strong downward spin.

Moreover, the trajectory was low and flat, heading straight for Pitchford's backhand baseline.

Pitchford reacted quickly, shifting his weight to the side.

Squat down and swing your weight backward.

Apply force to lift the board and surge forward diagonally.

Chen Jin adjusted his footwork nimbly, and after the long chop, his center of gravity had already returned to normal.

Facing Pitchford's topspin drive, he didn't retreat but advanced, meeting the ball's ascent with a sudden burst of power from his waist, a quick retraction of his forearm, and an instant flick of his wrist.

"Snapped!"

A crisp popping sound.

Backhand spin tear.

Pitchford met the ball with a backhand flick, then forcefully changed direction down the line.

However, he estimated the spin of Chen Jin's shot.

Unable to control the topspin, the ball went out of bounds.

9: 4.

Chen Jin pulled one back.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

Wang Hao leaped to his feet, clenched his fist, and roared.

Chen Jin is now standing on the edge of a cliff, and every moment is precious.

This point was like a pebble dropped into a pond, creating ripples in Pitchford's heart.

Fortunately, the score difference is still huge.

"Given Chen Jin's ability, it's quite normal for him to score one or two goals."

Pitchford twirled the small white ball between his fingers, silently reminding himself, "Don't panic, don't lose your composure."

Then, the serve continued.

Instead of using reverse spin, a forehand serve is now used.

A long backspin ball, aimed straight at the backhand.

Chen Jin took a half step back, squatted down, lowered his center of gravity, and lowered his right arm.

His whole body was like a fully drawn bow, poised to unleash a burst of power and burst forth.

Pitchford was startled when he saw this.

Instinctively, he quickly stepped back, preparing to meet Chen Jin's attack.

however.

Just at the moment the ball touched the ground.

Chen Jin's wrist, with a subtle movement that is difficult to detect with the naked eye, adjusted the shape of the board with extreme dexterity.

In a very short time, the thrust was transformed into a slash.

The entire method of exerting force instantly transformed from its previous fierce and unparalleled nature to a gentle and yielding one.

This slicing motion was so precise and controlled, so effortless, like plucking a flower.

"laugh!"

The ping-pong ball traces a low, flat arc with enhanced backspin, clears the net, and lands precisely on the opponent's side of the table near the center line.

It was light and airy, as if it had no power at all.

The second attempt will not result in an official appearance.

"F**K!"

Pitchford was taken aback.

He was completely fooled by Chen Jin's previous feints.

Because they retreated in advance, they have already lost the initiative to rush forward and receive the short ball.

Even so, he did not give up.

He took a big step forward, almost staggering, and reached out to grab the ball.

The racket barely made contact with the ball.

However, the strong backspin and extremely short second bounce made it impossible for him to exert any force, let alone control it.

The ball went into the net.

5: 9.

"Pretty!"

Zhang Jiahao was beaming with excitement, clenching his fist and roaring, "Brother Jin's touch is back!"

"Well done, Brother Jin!"

"Let's seize the moment and turn the tide!"

With a strong counter-attack and a skillful control, Chen Jin scored two points in a row.

The effect of pausing is immediate.

That domineering, self-assured aura is gradually returning to Chen Jin.

Switch sides and serve.

Chen Jin stood on the left side of the table, gently rubbing the small white ball in his palm.

I glanced at Pichiford's position.

"laugh!"

I hooked a short-armed one.

Laterally spiraling upwards.

At the moment Chen Jin threw the ball.

Pitchford seemed to have anticipated this, and without the slightest hesitation, he moved his body in advance, quickly stepped forward to gain position, and accurately found the best hitting point.

As the ball comes in, make slight adjustments to the racket angle.

Lower your shoulders and raise your elbows.

Engage your core muscles.

"Snapped!"

Backhand power twist in a straight line.

This shot was powerful and fast, aimed directly at Chen Jin's backhand.

Chen Jin was preparing to follow up with a forehand attack after the ball went in, completely unaware that Pitchford was so well-prepared for the ball.

Decisive at first, aggressive in line.

It was too late to switch back and defend.

5: 10.

Come on!

After decisively taking the first game point, Pitchford's morale soared, and he clenched his fist and roared in triumph.

Chen Jin's newly ignited counterattack momentum was abruptly interrupted by the opponent's powerful straight-line twist.

"Ouch!"

Zhang Jiahao held his head in frustration, "What a pity about that goal."

"In this round, it's possible..."

Xie Mingyang frowned slightly. "This is a bit difficult."

It wasn't that he didn't believe in Chen Jin's abilities.

Rather, it was because the score was so lopsided.

With Pitchford holding five match points, Chen Jin cannot afford to make a single mistake if he wants to turn the tide.

On the other hand, Pitchford only needed one point to kill the game.

not to mention.

At this moment, Pitchford was riding high, having secured victory thanks to this goal.

"No!"

Zhang Jiahao remained steadfast, his eyes fixed on Chen Jin on the field, "I believe in Brother Jin!"

"A true master can win a game even if they only have one chance."

Watching the small white ball still rolling in the distance, Chen Jin stood still, his face expressionless, only his eyes flickered slightly.

The competition isn't over yet, how can we speak of victory or defeat so easily?

"Whoo~"

Chen Jin exhaled softly, his eyes as calm as an ancient well.

Then, he took his place back in the serving position.

(End of this chapter)