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

Chapter 494: Coming from 0 to 3, crush them!
One p.m.

Orleans Stadium.

Table number three.

Amidst cheers from the crowd.

Chen Jin/Zhang Jiahao and Wang Chuqin/Liang Jingkun entered the competition venue one after another.

Because it's a secondary venue, the space is small and there aren't many spectators.

However, Zhang Jiahao quickly scanned the crowd and still spotted many fans supporting the "Golden Armor Combination".

Some people even waved banners bearing the names of Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao, who had won the championship in Doha.

The banners and images have a strong sense of chemistry.

Since it was a civil war, neither side had any off-field coaching.

This means that from the moment they step onto the field, all tactical arrangements, on-the-spot adjustments, and emotional adjustments can only rely on themselves and their partners.

This is not the first time Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun have partnered in men's doubles.

The two even won the WTT Saudi Arabia Grand Slam together last year.

Their teamwork is seamless, no doubt about it.

In addition, their individual abilities are enough to rank them among the top five in the Chinese national table tennis team.

He's definitely a formidable rival.

"Whoo~"

Zhang Jiahao let out a long breath.

"how?"

Chen Jin smiled. "Nervous, or scared?"

"I'm neither nervous nor afraid."

Zhang Jiahao stretched his limbs, his eyes sharp, as if gleaming with the light of swords. "I'm excited!"

"Finally, I have the opportunity to show the world who is the strongest left-handed doubles player in the world today, me or Wang Chuqin!"

To be fair, Wang Chuqin's doubles results are indeed quite impressive.

He won the men's doubles and mixed doubles titles at the World Table Tennis Championships, and the mixed doubles gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Putting aside his teammates, Wang Chuqin's doubles record alone is enough to be compared with Xu Xin, or even surpass Xu Xin.

After all, failing to win the mixed doubles title at the Tokyo Olympics became Xu Xin's biggest regret in his life.

Wang Chuqin, on the other hand, holds the gold medal in mixed doubles from the Paris Olympics.

This alone puts him ahead of Xu Xin.

As a left-handed player, it's understandable that Zhang Jiahao wants to prove himself.

Moreover, there are many doubts online, directed at Zhang Jiahao.

Zhang Jiahao was seething with anger.

This match is a good opportunity to vent my frustration.

"Execute tactics and reduce mistakes."

Chen Jin reached out and patted Zhang Jiahao on the shoulder, "We will definitely win."

"Understood!"

Zhang Jiahao's expression was resolute.

With a snap, the two high-fived.

Then, holding a towel, he walked onto the field.

He approached the referee and shook hands with Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun one by one.

Toss a coin to guess who will go first.

Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun won the right to serve in the first game.

After a warm-up sparring session.

The game officially begins.

first round.

0: 0.

The noise inside the venue subsided slightly.

All eyes were focused on the small white ball.

Liang Jingkun stood on the right side of the table tennis table, his body slightly crouched, his eyes sharp as a hawk's.

Toss the ball and prepare to swing.

As the ping-pong ball landed in front of him, he flicked his wrist sharply.

"laugh!"

The white ball, with a subtle spin, flew over the net, tracing a low, flat arc, towards the right side of the table.

Chen Jin bent over and stepped forward.

Observe the spin of the incoming ball and gently swing it short.

The ball hasn't landed on the opponent's side of the table yet.

Wang Chuqin had anticipated this and secured his spot in advance.

Step forward with your left leg, relax your shoulders and raise your elbows.

As the ball begins its descent, execute a backhand topspin.

"laugh!"

The ball, with a strong sidespin, turned into a white streak and headed straight for Zhang Jiahao's right side of the middle.

Zhang Jiahao shifted his weight forward and tore the line backward.

"Snapped!"

The ball flew like lightning, hurtling towards Liang Jingkun's backhand.

Liang Jingkun took a step to the side, moved laterally, and with his excellent strength and feel, used a backhand to bend the ball to the corner.

"Snapped!"

Another explosive sound of the ball being struck rang out.

Like a shooting star streaking across the sky, the ping-pong ball, carrying a gust of wind, flew straight towards Chen Jin's backhand corner.

Chen Jin quickly filled the gap, met the incoming ball, and with a flick of his wrist, ripped it across the crosscourt.

The target of their attack was still the opponent's left half of the table.

Wang Chuqin leaped forward and lunged, pulling back with his forehand.

On the other side, Zhang Jiahao was already in position.

Squat down and draw back the racket with your left arm.

He then tried to pull it back.

Unexpectedly, Wang Chuqin's counter-attack had a spin intensity far exceeding his expectations.

The ball landed on the table, bounced up, and then noticeably sank and accelerated.

Zhang Jiahao's hitting point was a fraction of a second too late.

They couldn't match the rhythm and spin of the incoming ball.

The small white ball flew out, almost grazing the edge of his racket.

1: 0.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun achieved a successful start.

Liang Jingkun clenched his fist, and Wang Chuqin's gaze sharpened even more.

The backhand loop resulted in a missed shot, a very basic mistake that made Zhang Jiahao frown deeply, his face filled with frustration.

"Depend on!"

Zhang Jiahao cursed under his breath and shook his wrist holding the racket.

"fine."

Chen Jin's voice was deep and steady, without the slightest hint of panic, "It's normal to be a little nervous at the start."

He paused, then glanced at the opposite side. "Firm tactics, keep a close eye on their left side of the table."

This was one of their core tactics before the game.

The target area is Liang Jingkun's backhand, which is also Wang Chuqin's forehand area where he needs to move more.

Zhang Jiahao took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and nodded, saying, "Understood."

“Hohohoho~”

He stomped around in place and jumped a few times.

Together with Chen Jin, they bent over, got into position, and stared intently at the opposite side.

Liang Jingkun continues serving.

Diagonal, short and doesn't rotate.

Chen Jin's serve reception was still flawless.

A deft short push sends the ball back to the net.

Wang Chuqin stepped forward and swung the ball back to near the center line.

However, the control is slightly poor.

They set up a semi-exposed stage.

The moment Wang Chuqin made his move, Zhang Jiahao had already predicted the landing point and trajectory.

Without hesitation, I turned to the side in advance.

Step firmly with your left leg and push off the ground, engaging your core muscles.

The shot begins, and power is gathered.

Target the early stage of the ball's descent.

Push off with your legs and rotate your waist, then retract your arm and swing the racket.

In an instant, all the power in his body poured out and finally gathered at the tips of his wrists and fingers.

"Break!"

He shrugged and pulled the ball sideways.

This shot had a low, flat trajectory and landed extremely deep.

More importantly, the rotation is intense.

The ping-pong ball flies through the air, its powerful topspin resembling a miniature storm.

Liang Jingkun originally intended to quickly tear it apart.

However, Zhang Jiahao's aggressive attack was of extremely high quality.

The key point is that the landing point of the arc was unexpected.

Liang Jingkun slowed down slightly while moving, losing half a body length.

At the moment of contact with the ball, the spin could not be controlled.

The ball went out of bounds.

1: 1.

The score is tied.

"Boiled!"

Zhang Jiahao clenched his fists and let out a low growl.

The frustration I felt earlier vanished completely.

His eyes were filled with renewed fighting spirit.

Switch sides and serve.

Chen Jin stood on the right side of the table, twirling the ping-pong ball between his fingertips and blowing on it.

He glanced down and saw Zhang Jiahao's gesture.

On the surface, he remained calm and composed.

He tossed the ball high into the air and hooked it into the side with a short, low shot.

Wang Chuqin positioned himself on the short central path.

Zhang Jiahao quickly chopped Liang Jingkun's backhand baseline.

Despite being pushed back, Liang Jingkun remained calm and launched a backhand attack down the diagonal line.

This shot wasn't of very high quality.

Chen Jin moved ahead of time, his footsteps precise and accurate.

At the same time, the wrist is retracted to store power.

He met the incoming ball with a powerful backhand flick.

"Snap!" A flash of white light.

The ping-pong ball, with greater power and faster speed, hurtled towards the left half of the table on the opposite side.

Wang Chuqin lunged forward with a forehand shot, then countered with a cross-court shot.

On the other side, Zhang Jiahao was already prepared.

The moment Chen Jin made his move, he had already begun to move and reposition himself to cover for Chen Jin.

Observe Wang Chuqin's return shot trajectory and position yourself firmly in the mid-to-close range.

A powerful forehand swing, a devastating smash.

"Snapped!"

The ball, like a cannonball, slammed straight into the middle.

Liang Jingkun twisted his waist and forcefully pulled back with his forehand.

The quality of the return shot was not ideal.

Chen Jin had already positioned himself near the table, facing the incoming ball, and swung his racket with his forehand, whipping it out like a whip.

A terrifying force poured out.

"Snapped!"

At the moment of impact, a piercing explosion was heard.

The small, light ping-pong ball, empowered by this force, suddenly transformed into a furious dragon, roaring and charging towards the left side of the table with astonishing momentum.

Its power, speed, and spin are all at their peak.

Wang Chuqin was clearly unprepared for this shot.

Almost instinctively, he lunged towards the forehand position.

His body was fully extended, and he was trying to pull the ball back from the limit position.

Unfortunately, Chen Jin's powerful forehand smash was unmatched.

The power, speed, and rotation were all beyond his imagination and control.

"boom!"

The instant the racket touches the ball.

Wang Chuqin's pupils suddenly contracted, and he felt a violent tremor in his hand.

The terrifying force, like a lightning bolt and a venomous drill, almost pierced through the racket in his hand.

It penetrates the rubber and reaches the core of the board.

When he tries to pull back, they can't combine their strength at all.

Unable to create enough arc to get the ball over the net.

歘——

The ball went into the net.

2: 1.

"Choo-hoo!"

"Zhu--"

Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao clenched their fists, roared, and high-fived in celebration.

Then, the second serve.

After glancing at Zhang Jiahao's gesture, Chen Jin made a short, unwavering gesture.

Wang Chuqin made a fuss.

My hand went slightly limp, and the ball bounced high.

"Chance!"

With a surge of murderous intent in his eyes, Zhang Jiahao leaped up and launched a powerful flying attack.

Snapped!
The ball went into the net.

2: 2.

The score is tied again.

Seeing that he had wasted a chance, Zhang Jiahao was filled with frustration and wished he could slap himself.

"Hold still."

Chen Jin whispered a reminder, "Don't panic, and don't rush."

Next, the match entered a fierce and intense struggle.

They are all teammates, and they know each other's skills and tactics inside and out. There are no secrets between them.

It all comes down to experience on the field, performance under pressure, and attention to detail.

Wang Chuqin's backhand topspin and continuous attacking ability, combined with Liang Jingkun's powerful topspin and solid defense, complement each other perfectly and pose a significant threat.

Chen Jin's consistency and decisive plays at crucial moments are no less impressive than Zhang Jiahao's sharp attacks and quick transitions.

The score was close, with the ball going back and forth.

Every point gained or lost was accompanied by the athletes' suppressed or released growls, and the rollercoaster-like gasps and sighs of the fans in the stands.

3: 3.

4: 4.

5: 5.

……

After a fierce battle, the score reached 9-9.

At the crucial moment, the air seemed to freeze.

It was Wang Chuqin's turn to serve.

Zhang Jiahao receives the serve.

"Whoo~"

Knowing that the next two balls were crucial, Zhang Jiahao was on edge and dared not be careless in the slightest.

They were on high alert, keeping a close eye on Wang Chuqin's every move.

Wang Chuqin stood in front of the table tennis table, his eyes focused and calm.

Toss the ball and prepare to swing.

Press your body down.

Before Zhang Jiahao could even see clearly...

The ball has flown over.

"Fuck!"

"Topspin? Backspin? Or no spin?"

Zhang Jiahao had no choice but to bite the bullet and guess randomly.

The ball was returned at about half its height.

How could Liang Jingkun let such an opportunity slip by?

Take the next step and rush down the diagonal line.

"Snapped!"

Its momentum was like thunder.

Even Chen Jin would find it difficult to defend against this ball.

10: 9.

Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun were the first to reach match point.

"Pretty!"

"nice shot!"

The fans at the scene cheered with joy.

"Depend on!"

Zhang Jiahao's eyes burned with fire.

"Hold still."

Chen Jin reminded everyone again, "Stay calm and focus on the serve."

Followed by.

Wang Chuqin continued serving.

Still hooking the hand.

A long, fast ball hurtled straight towards Zhang Jiahao.

This shot was extremely fast.

Zhang Jiahao thought it was a short ball, and his center of gravity had already shifted forward.

By the time you realize it's a long ball, it's already too late to retreat.

In a moment of haste, Zhang Jiahao attempted a backhand flick, but the ball spun and went into the net.

11: 9.

Wang Chuqin and Liang Jingkun won the first game.

"Wow—"

A wave of cheers and applause immediately erupted from the audience.

"What the hell -"

Zhang Jiahao stood there, stunned.

An unnamed rage surged to the top of his head in an instant.

In the crucial point, I actually lost two serves in a row!
Frustrated, he raised his left arm, almost slamming the racket in his hand to the ground.

At this critical moment.

Chen Jin suddenly gave him a gentle push from behind.

Zhang Jiahao suddenly came to his senses.

He quickly grabbed the racket that was about to slip from his hand, thus avoiding being warned by the referee.

"Ashamed!"

Zhang Jiahao, covered in sweat, put down his racket.

He turned around, took a towel from the frame of the referee's table, and handed it to Chen Jin.

The two wiped their sweat as they walked to the sidelines.

Chen Jin unscrewed a bottle of water and handed it to Zhang Jiahao before unscrewing another bottle and taking a sip.

"In the first game, we were able to tie with them at 9, and in the end we only lost by two points. The score was so close, which shows that there was nothing wrong with our tactics."

Chen Jin said calmly, "In the next game, continue playing like this and suppress their left side of the table."

"However, we were a little rough in some details, especially in receiving serves."

Hear this.

Zhang Jiahao looked aggrieved: "I really can't see clearly..."

"It's ok."

Chen Jin comforted him, "In the next game, when receiving serves, don't be so conservative. Let's take the initiative, especially with Wang Chuqin's serves. Don't overthink it. Just aim and flick the ball, even if you make a mistake."

"Then, when Wang Chuqin serves, your position should be slightly to the right."

"Also, keep an eye on long balls."

Zhang Jiahao wiped his sweat and listened quietly to Chen Jin's words.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his surging emotions, and nodded heavily.

"After losing the first game, I bet some people are waiting to see us make a fool of ourselves."

Zhang Jiahao's gaze darkened slightly.

It was as if he could already hear the doubts and ridicule coming from somewhere.

"See? I told you, Chen Taisun and Zhang Taisun were just lucky to win the Doha men's doubles title. If you replaced them with Da Tou and Da Pang, they could still win the title, or even more consistently!"

"For doubles, we still have to rely on Da Tou!"

"Go, Fatty! Win 3-0!"

……

Chen Jin seemed to see through Zhang Jiahao's thoughts at a glance, and smiled calmly: "It's only been one game."

"Let's work together and come back from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1!"

Chen Jin's words lifted Zhang Jiahao's spirits.

"A comeback from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1!"

Zhang Jiahao clenched his fists tightly, "Crush them!"

(End of this chapter)