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

Chapter 451 Turning the Tide Against All Odds, Chen Jin Advances!
"Ah~"

Seeing Pitchford's shot just barely graz the edge, Wang Hao's face showed a hint of regret, "What a pity..."

They came back from 3-9 down to 9-10.

They were just one point away from tying the game.

Given Chen Jin's current form, a comeback against all odds is within reach.

Unexpectedly, the opponent had incredible luck and managed to return the ball just wide of the edge.

This unexpected turn of events instantly turned all of Chen Jin's efforts in the second half of the game into nothing.

But that's the nature of competition.

Besides hard skills, luck is also a factor.

No matter how regrettable or lamentable it may seem, we can only accept it.

Moreover, Chen Jin's condition has clearly improved.

Even if we lose the first game, as long as we keep our composure, coming back from a 1-0 deficit to win four games will be a piece of cake.

Think of this.

Wang Hao, holding a water bottle, stood up and casually straightened the slightly wrinkled corner of his clothes.

He quickly thought about how to comfort and encourage Chen Jin, as well as the tactical arrangements for the next game.

But then, looking up...

Chen Jin did not put down his racket but walked to the sidelines.

Instead, he went to the referee's side and seemed to be communicating with him.

"what happened?"

Wang Hao was stunned for a moment.

He quickly realized, "Chen Jin has a problem with that close call just now?"

As expected, Chen Jin drew a square in the air with both hands, signaling to the referee to challenge Hawk-Eye.

Seeing this, Wang Hao immediately put the water bottle back where it was and sat down silently.

Arms crossed, awaiting the result.

The so-called "Eagle Eye" is also known as the "real-time replay system".

It is used in many ball sports.

In table tennis, Hawk-Eye is called "Table Tennis Review," or simply "TTR."

It mainly consists of multi-camera slow-motion playback technology, 3D animation display technology parameters, and computational basis technology.

According to the competition rules, if a player disagrees with the referee's on-site ruling and files an appeal during the competition, TTR will provide a replay of the ruling and the TTR official will make the final ruling.

WTT's major events are already in use.

However, this is the first time the World Table Tennis Championships have been held.

During closed training, the Chinese national table tennis team players all undergo a certain degree of adaptive training.

Especially for serves.

After all, the serve was the most controversial.

Hawk-Eye technology goes beyond just recognizing and judging serves.

If there is a dispute regarding actions such as grazing the net or the edge, the contestant has the right to request a challenge.

Although the referee thought the point was valid because it grazed the edge of the line, he awarded the point to Pitchford.

But it's clear that Chen Jin has a different opinion.

Therefore, I applied to challenge Hawkeye.

The referee picked up the headset and communicated with the TTR technical officer backstage.

Followed by.

The large screen hanging above the stadium immediately displayed the words TTR.

All eyes were focused on this, quietly awaiting Hawkeye's ruling.

"Didn't that ball just graz the edge?"

Zhang Jiahao lowered his voice, "I saw it very clearly."

"You call yourself a professional player?"

Xie Mingyang glanced at it coldly, "Even grazing the edge can be either the top or the bottom."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jiahao suddenly realized what was going on.

According to the rules, a ping-pong ball must land on the opponent's side of the table to score a point.

This includes the upper edge of the table surface.

If the ping-pong ball touches the side of the table below the table surface, it is considered out of bounds and no points are scored.

Pitchford's shot just now was extremely fast, and the position where it grazed the edge of the box was very ambiguous.

It is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye alone.

Otherwise, the referee wouldn't have awarded the point to Pitchford.

"Yeah."

Zhang Jiahao nodded repeatedly, "I was so nervous, I almost forgot."

“My brother Jin’s eyes are like a ruler; this ball must be on the bottom.”

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the big screen, his gaze seemingly filled with some unwavering conviction.

A burning gaze is enough to burn through a screen.

"Below, below, below..."

Zhang Jiahao muttered to himself, as if chanting a spell, and accompanied his hand gestures as if performing a ritual.

I waited a while longer.

Suddenly, the scene changes.

The 3D animation is presented.

It was a slow-motion replay of Pitchford's goal.

The arc of the ping-pong ball is marked with a white line.

Precisely targeted, with every detail clearly visible.

"It really is down there!"

Zhang Jiahao shouted excitedly, "It's Brother Jin who scored!"

The words have not yet fallen.

The TTR ruling was displayed on the screen.

"Challenge successful."

In other words, Pitchford's shot didn't glide, so the goal was disallowed.

The situation reversed instantly.

"Well done, Chen Jin!"

Wang Hao crossed his arms, leaned back slightly, and smiled, "It seems that the Hawkeye Challenge training during the closed training period was not in vain."

The referee, the spectators, and even Wang Hao all thought it was just a close call.

Chen Jin, however, insisted on his own opinion and challenged Hawkeye.

The decision has been made, and the game continues.

On Chen Jin's face, there was neither excitement nor surprise at his successful challenge.

He acted as if nothing had happened, walked to the right side of the table, and reached out to touch it.

"It didn't even glide?"

Pitchford's mood plummeted as he watched the TTR's ruling.

He originally thought that by relying on this close call, he had already won the first game.

It's important to know that, to date, very few people have been able to beat Chen Jin in a single game.

If you win the first game, the boost to morale is self-evident.

But to everyone's surprise, the attempt to score by skirting the line was invalid.

This means that Chen Jin saved five match points from a 5-10 deficit to tie the score.

"10:10."

The scoreboard has been updated.

An invisible pressure, like a tidal wave, swept over my mouth and nose, suffocating me.

Pitchford shook his head helplessly at the result, resigned to his fate.

"Whoo~"

Catching the ping-pong ball thrown by the referee, Pitchford tried to calm himself down, raised his elbow, and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

The atmosphere at the stadium was so intense, it felt like a single match could ignite it.

Toss the ball and prepare to swing.

"laugh!"

A short, sideways ball, light and airy, like a viper spitting its tongue, landed on Chen Jin's backhand corner.

The trajectory is tricky, with a strong side turn.

Chen Jin stepped forward with his right leg, seized the landing point, twisted his waist and hips, and tucked his wrist inward.

His entire body was like a fully drawn bow, his arm muscles bulging.

A terrifying power, in an instant, frantically gathered and poured into the forearm and wrist.

"Snapped!"

Chen Jin unleashed a powerful backhand flick.

The racket in his hand, like a demon-headed sword that has slain countless enemies, was suddenly swung out, tearing through the air.

The ping-pong ball instantly transformed into a streak of lightning, carrying immense power. Its trajectory was low and flat, like a thunderclap close to the ground, so fast that only a fleeting afterimage could be seen.

next moment.

The ball slammed into his backhand triangle area with a deafening bang.

It was as if it didn't bounce up.

It was an explosion.

Before Pitchford could even react, his left hand, which wasn't holding the racket, instinctively reached out to try and block.

"pia~"

The ping-pong ball struck his left palm with perfect accuracy.

A flicker of pain crossed Pitchford's face in an instant.

As if electrocuted, I quickly dropped the ball.

When he looked down, a red mark the size of a coin was already left on the palm of his left hand.

11: 10.

After trailing for the entire game, they finally turned the tide. Wang Hao immediately sprang to his feet, his face filled with murderous intent, and roared as he punched his fist.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

The emotional value is full.

In the stands.

Zhang Jiahao was equally excited, letting out a roar that was even more thrilling than Wang Hao's.

"Boiled!"

Zhang Jiahao wanted nothing more than to smash the back of the seat in front of him with his fist. "I knew it! Brother Jin could definitely turn the tide!"

"One point short!"

"Go for it, Brother Jin!"

"We should press the enemy to their death with our remaining strength!"

Sitting next to Chen Jin, Xie Mingyang remained silent, but his gaze towards Chen Jin held a hint of warmth: "Down 5-10, yet still able to turn the tide... Is this the confidence that comes with absolute strength?"

For a while.

The audience was also ignited.

"Chen Jin, keep it up!"

Although the number of people was small, their cheers and encouragement were overwhelming and unstoppable.

Just then, Pitchford suddenly laughed.

There was a hint of helplessness in his smile.

Despite holding a huge advantage of five match points, they were still overtaken by their opponents.

"It doesn't matter."

Pitchford took a deep breath. "There's still a chance."

Switch sides and serve.

Chen Jin held the ball in his hand, his breathing steady.

I hooked a short, straight shot without any spin.

Pitchford remained calm and did not rush into a fight, but instead used a short position.

Chen Jin didn't linger too long, quickly flicking his wrist, cutting the ball downwards with his racket, and then chopping a long backhand ball to the baseline.

Pitchford squatted down, lowered his center of gravity, and with a flick of his wrist, quickly pulled a straight shot with his backhand.

The ball is struck from below the table with small, delicate movements, but the power is concentrated and the speed is extremely fast.

Moreover, the methods are covert.

However, Chen Jin was not fooled and seemed to have anticipated Pitchford's route.

Step forward to gain position, then counter-attack with a forehand.

With a "thud," the ball shot out like a bullet, hurtling towards the opponent's center.

Although Pitchford is a veteran in his thirties, his reflexes are just as good as they were back in his prime.

He immediately slid to the side, swung his racket forward, and attacked Chen Jin's backhand side on the left half of the table.

Chen Jin quickly adjusted his footwork, stepped out with his left leg, and reversed the line.

Pitchford's forehand fast cross-court shot to the far corner.

Chen Jin took a cross step and leaped out.

Despite being almost out of position, they relied on their incredible core strength to surge forward and pull back.

That strike was incredibly powerful.

The white ball traces a C-shaped arc in the air, carrying astonishing force and spin, like a heavy cannonball, crashing into the opponent's table.

Pitchford, however, did not back down. He pressed down on the racket, lowered his center of gravity, and met the incoming ball with a quick forearm pull.

A quick strike followed by skillful deflection.

Push the ball back to Chen Jin's center.

His forehand quick pass, using the opponent's force against them, is as fast as lightning.

After making the save at the far corner, Chen Jingang pushed off the ground with ease.

Its body, like a spring, folds back into place.

The player was still in the air, his feet had not yet touched the ground, and the ball was already hurtling towards him.

Chen Jin retaliated with a powerful backhand flick.

His entire posture resembled a crow sitting in an airplane.

"Snapped!"

The sound of the ball hitting the shuttlecock was deafening.

The ball, like a grenade, slammed into the opponent's left side of the table once again.

Pitchford's backhand smash was powerful and heavy.

Thinking that his opponent was going to attack his backhand, Chen Jin kept moving and charged out.

Unexpectedly, Pitchford's shot came straight at him.

He was about to run into her arms.

There is absolutely no space left for hitting the ball.

At the critical moment.

Chen Jin suddenly slammed on the brakes, coming to a stop.

Leaning forward with the right leg on its side, like a horse galloping through the air, it elegantly and powerfully creates space for the shot.

At the same time, facing the incoming ball, he cut his arm down, drawing a semi-circle in front of him.

"laugh!"

Forehand sweeping cut.

The ping-pong ball, with a strong backspin, flew through the air above the table, drawing a light, low, and strangely curved arc.

It looked as if it was about to fly off the table, but after clearing the net, it plummeted and veered to the side, like a leaf caught in a gale, with nowhere to land.

Having played on the field for over a decade, Pitchford has seen it all.

Knowing the strange spin Chen Jin's shot contained, they dared not be careless or negligent.

He took a long stride, his body almost touching the ground, attempting to scoop up the ball gently.

However, the spin of this ball was significantly stronger than he had imagined.

Despite my best efforts to control it, I was ultimately unable to counteract the rotation.

The ball goes into the net.

12: 10.

Chen Jin reversed the match by two points, winning the first game.

"Choo-hoo!"

Wang Hao leaped into the air, clenched his fist, and roared, "Burning—"

The sound was powerful and resonated throughout the venue.

"I flipped it over!"

Zhang Jiahao grabbed Xie Mingyang's arm and shook it vigorously, shouting excitedly, "Brother Jin really turned things around!"

"I knew it! Brother Jin could definitely turn things around!"

Xie Mingyang flicked his hand away with a sharp crack, swatting Zhang Jiahao's hand away.

"Chen Jin overturned such a huge score difference."

Xie Mingyang's eyebrows relaxed, a smile playing on his lips. "The upcoming matches should all be Chen Jin's hunting ground."

Despite holding a huge advantage, Pitchford failed to seize the opportunity and was defeated by Chen Jin. A look of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

But it vanished in a flash.

As a veteran, Pitchford understands that winning and losing are common occurrences on the field.

Moreover, the other party is Chen Jin.

Even if the favorable situation is reversed, it is within reason.

Pitchford was not greatly affected.

However, "Chen Jin was affected by the damage to his racket and had a poor start. I couldn't even win this match, so I guess the later matches will be even more difficult."

Think about this.

Pitchford sighed.

He gently put down his racket, picked up a towel, wiped his sweat, and walked to the sidelines.

Just as Xie Mingyang had predicted.

In the subsequent matches, Chen Jin, riding the momentum of his comeback victory in the first game, became even more hot and unstoppable.

Pitchford tried his best and fought back fiercely, but ultimately he was no match for him.

Even with his signature fast backhand combos, he was frequently at a disadvantage under Chen Jin's superior firepower.

11: 3.

11: 5.

11: 2.

The score is 4-0.

Chen Jin defeated England's top player Liam Pitchford to win his opening match in the men's singles at the Doha World Table Tennis Championships and advance to the round of 64.

Having been eliminated in the first round of the World Table Tennis Championships, Pitchford was clearly prepared for this result and accepted it calmly.

When shaking hands with Chen Jin.

Pitchford smiled and whispered, "Congratulations."

It was in Chinese.

Chen Jin paused for a moment, then said, "Thank you."

He immediately recalled that Pitchford's table tennis coach during his youth was a member of the Chinese national table tennis team.

Pitchford's playing style is clearly influenced by this Chinese national table tennis coach.

Back on the sidelines.

Chen Jin and Wang Hao high-fived in celebration.

"Near miss."

Wang Hao laughed and said, "Keep it up."

"I wonder if the investigation results are out yet?"

Chen Jin said as he packed his things.

He always kept the incident of his racket rubber being maliciously torn open in his mind.

(End of this chapter)