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

Chapter 497 What a fast pace! What a fierce burst of speed!
"Blanching—!!!"

At the moment the game ended.

Zhang Jiahao clenched his left fist and slammed it into the air, roaring angrily.

It was as if he was pouring all his strength and pent-up emotions into this long, drawn-out roar.

Right now.

What "burden," what "unstable mentality," what "weakness in doubles"... all the doubts and belittlings were shattered by this roar!
I was even more excited than if I had won the championship.

Because this is not just a victory, but a complete battle to vindicate ourselves!

Zhang Jiahao turned around to face the cheering crowd in the stands.

He clenched his left fist and lightly pounded his chest.

He then extended his index finger and pointed at the fans in the stadium.

He placed his right hand beside his ear, as if listening to something.

Instantly.

Inside the huge venue.

It was as if a cannonball had been dropped.

"Wow!"

Cheers and applause erupted.

Like a tidal wave, they surged toward Zhang Jiahao from all directions.

"Whoo~"

Zhang Jiahao let out a long breath.

Looking back.

But Chen Jin remained standing in the same spot, a smile on his face.

Unlike Zhang Jiahao, he didn't vent his emotions recklessly.

But he also clenched his fist.

Suddenly, Zhang Jiahao rushed over.

Without any hesitation, he extended his right hand.

Almost simultaneously, Chen Jin raised his hand.

"Snapped!"

Two hands clasped tightly together in mid-air.

A crisp clapping sound rang out.

They held hands tightly and shook each other vigorously.

The two smiled at each other.

"Brother Jin!"

Zhang Jiahao exclaimed excitedly, "We won!"

Not only did they win.

Moreover, they won three consecutive games after losing the first one.

They ultimately came back from a 1-0 deficit to win 3-1 and reverse the game.

They successfully advanced to the men's doubles semifinals.

It's hard to imagine what kind of media storm would rage if we lost this match.

The defending champions of the Doha World Table Tennis Championships men's doubles were defeated by Wang Chuqin/Liang Jingkun...aren't they going to be criticized to death?

Fortunately, they withstood the pressure and won the game.

They proved to the world that their men's doubles victory in Doha was no accident!
"Won."

Chen Jin's voice was as steady as ever.

Beneath the calm surface, however, simmered an undercurrent of power: "It's all about strength!"

however.

The online uproar did not completely subside because of this victory.

"They won, so what's there to brag about? 'World's number one men's doubles'... It's been so long since Da Tou (Liang Jingkun) partnered with Liang Jingkun. If they can lose to this, then it shows how weak the Doha men's doubles championship is."

"Since the 'world's number one men's doubles' is so strong, the men's doubles competitions will all be handed over to the two grandsons from now on. JLZ, please be a decent person and don't make us, the big head, compete in three events."

"Liang Jingkun's performance today was terrible, making all sorts of pointless mistakes, playing defense with his eyes closed, dragging down our leader... Damn, it's infuriating to watch!"

"It's all Liang Jingkun's fault for dragging down Teacher Chu Qin. If Liang Jingkun had been replaced by Lin Shidong, we would have won long ago."

"Big Head, it's okay, it's just a doubles match, we don't need it anyway. We're not short of doubles champions, so why not let Chen Taisun and Zhang Taisun have it? Enjoy the match and focus on the singles."

……

Chen Jin never paid any attention to the noise from outside the venue.

His battlefield has always been only on the pool table.

After a brief post-match interview.

Chen Jin went to the rest room to rest and receive physical therapy to recover his strength.

Once the time was right, I rushed to the training hall.

After all, there was a mixed doubles semi-final waiting for him that afternoon.

We arrived at the training hall.

Ye Sijia had been waiting for a long time.

Under Xiao Zhan's guidance, he is training with Xie Mingyang in multi-ball drills.

They stopped what they were doing when they saw Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao approaching.

They greeted each other.

Chen Jin took out his racket and began some simple stretching and warm-up exercises.

Xiao Zhan said, "In this afternoon's mixed doubles match, our opponents are Lin Zhongxun and Shen Yubin. Both of them have very fast mid-to-close-range speed and quick transitions. We must be prepared for a tough battle."

"Shin Yu-bin's playing style is also masculine."

"So, I called Xie Mingyang and Zhang Jiahao over to be your sparring partners."

Ye Sijia smiled at Xie Mingyang and Zhang Jiahao: "Thanks. If we win, I'll treat you to dinner."

“We must win!”

Zhang Jiahao thumped his chest with a resounding voice, "I'm definitely eating this meal. Even the King of Heaven himself couldn't stop me, I said it!"

"Won't your presence as sparring partners disrupt your training rhythm?"

Chen Jin was somewhat worried.

After all, both Xie Mingyang and Zhang Jiahao have a singles match tonight.

The opponents in the round of 16 are all tough to beat.

"will not."

Xie Mingyang shook his head.

"how could be."

Zhang Jiahao also said, "Being a sparring partner is also a form of training. It's a good opportunity to practice footwork so that I can run faster in the race tonight."

Since things had come to this point, Chen Jin didn't say anything more.

immediately.

Under Xiao Zhan's supervision, they devoted themselves to training.

Four p.m.

The mixed doubles semifinals have finally begun.

The atmosphere at the scene was completely different from that of the men's doubles match at noon.

It lacked some of the tense atmosphere of battle, but gained a more unpredictable and ever-changing technological game.

Lim Jong-hoon is one of the main players of the South Korean men's team. He is a left-handed penhold grip player and has inherited the South Korean team's consistent forehand and footwork.

Shin Yu-bin is the top female player on the South Korean women's team.

Their individual abilities are beyond question.

Moreover, the two have been a mixed doubles pair for quite some time.

Previously, he had also achieved many results in international competitions.

The two are known for their fierce close-range and mid-range fighting style, as well as their fluid and seamless teamwork.

Lin Zhongxun's forehand attack was powerful and heavy.

Agile footwork, a legacy of the predecessors.

Spanning the entire table and making a last-ditch save is almost routine for him.

Shen Yubin's continuous fast attacks with his forehand were like a whirlwind, complementing Lin Zhongxun perfectly.

more importantly.

Both players were clearly well-prepared for this match.

They kept a close eye on Ye Sijia, regarding her as a breakthrough point.

Therefore, the match turned into a predictable hard-fought battle from the very beginning.

first round.

From the very first ball, although it was their first time playing together, the two sides didn't engage in much probing and took their turn decisively.

Lin Zhongxun and Shen Yubin focused their attacks on Ye Sijia's backhand.

They launched a series of attacks, each one more powerful than the last.

They beat Ye Sijia so badly that she had no chance to fight back.

Fortunately, Chen Jin was there to cover the losses.

Chen Jin used his individual skill to keep the score close throughout.

1: 1.

3: 1.

3: 3.

……

As the game progresses.

Ye Sijia gradually adapted to the opponent's offensive rhythm.

It became much easier to deal with.

Trailing 7-10.

Working seamlessly with Chen Jin, they scored three consecutive points.

They tied the score at 10-10.

crucial moment.

Chen Jin once again demonstrated his strong ability to cover for others.

In an extremely passive defensive position, he retreated to the mid-to-long range and made a seemingly forced roundabout shot, but with strong sidespin, which went around the net and landed on Lin Zhongxun's backhand corner.

Lin Zhongxun carefully and gently lifted the board.

However, the arc rises high.

Ye Sijia rushed from the mid-to-far platform to the near platform at an extremely fast speed.

"Snapped!"

Backhand bomb.

It is powerful and fast.

This caught Shen Yubin completely off guard.

13: 12.

Subsequently.

Shin Yu-bin serves.

Ye Sijia is short.

Lin Zhongxun quickly chopped Chen Jin's backhand baseline.

It was originally thought that this long slash would limit Chen Jin's initiative.

Unexpectedly, Chen Jin took five steps in one second.

Glide sideways at unimaginable speeds.

"Snapped!"

Chen Jin lunged sideways.

The ball, like a cannonball, hurtled towards Shen Yubin's backhand corner baseline with terrifying momentum.

Shen Yubin gasped in fright.

For a moment, I even forgot to catch the ball.

He instinctively dodged the ball. 14:12.

Chen Jin and Ye Sijia narrowly won this round.

Witnessing the final goal, a sports association president sitting in the stands watching the game couldn't help but squint his eyes.

"Such a fast sidestep!"

"What a powerful burst of speed!"

After winning the first game.

Ye Sijia jumped up excitedly, her eyes filled with trust as she looked at Chen Jin.

Second round.

Lin Zhongxun and Shen Yubin launched a fierce counterattack.

Strengthen the attack in receiving and sending.

Moreover, they no longer specifically target Ye Sijia's backhand position.

Open the landing point and adjust the angle.

The score is now neck and neck again.

8: 8.

9: 9.

10: 10.

Even the air seemed to have frozen.

"Whoo~"

Lin Zhongxun held the ping-pong ball in his hand, let out a long breath, and was also a little nervous.

Toss the ball and prepare to swing.

"laugh!"

Diagonal, shorter on the upper side.

Chen Jin stepped forward with his right foot and quickly moved forward.

Relax your shoulders and raise your elbows, with your wrists slightly bent inward.

"Snapped!"

A powerful backhand twist.

They directly broke through Shin Yu-bin's defense.

11: 10.

It's Ye Sijia's turn to serve.

Short forehand, no spin.

Shen Yubin wanted to put the ball short, but he put it only half a height.

"Snapped!"

Chen Jin made a forehand attack.

I thought one move would decide everything.

Unexpectedly, Lin Zhongxun instinctively brought them back quickly.

Using the opponent's force against them, the ball moves with lightning speed.

Even Chen Jin didn't react for a moment.

But at this moment.

At the critical moment, Ye Sijia stepped forward with lightning speed and countered with a forehand pull.

"Snapped!"

Faster speed, more challenging angles.

Shen Yubin tried his best to save the ball, but he was ultimately a step too late.

12: 10.

Another city!
The score is 2-0.

They hold three match points.

Both matches were fierce and drawn-out battles.

Each match was tied at 10-10 before a winner was decided by a mere two points.

It seemed that victory was in sight.

However, Lin Zhongxun and Shen Yubin's resilience was beyond imagination.

In the third game.

The two put aside all their burdens and fought with their backs against the wall.

The fighting became even more ferocious.

In addition, Ye Sijia's physical strength was also fluctuating after the hard-fought battles in the first two rounds.

He hesitated slightly in handling several key balls.

11: 13.

Lin Zhongxun/Shen Yubin won a game back.

The score became 2-1.

The suspense of the match has been reignited.

The fourth game.

They were down 2-6 to their opponents right from the start.

Seeing that something was wrong, Xiao Zhan quickly stood up and asked for a pause.

He rearranged tactics and comforted the two players: "In this game, the opponents did have a lot of net and edge shots, but it's okay. In terms of strength, they are no match for us."

"So, take it slow and don't rush."

The comeback is temporarily suspended.

Chen Jin made his move again.

With a fierce attack, break through the opponent's defenses.

With a solid defense, they neutralized the opponent's fierce attack.

During the stalemate, the player used variations in landing points and spins to continuously create relatively comfortable attacking opportunities for Ye Sijia.

His gaze remained calm throughout.

The ups and downs of the competition never affected his inner judgment.

At this moment, Ye Sijia completely let go of her burdens and gave it her all.

Every run, every shot, was filled with her whole heart.

The forehand topspin is more decisive.

His backhand defense has become increasingly resilient.

The score difference gradually narrowed.

The score eventually became 8:8.

Followed by.

Chen Jin and Ye Sijia scored two points in quick succession.

10:8.
They've secured match point.

The last ball was the result of a long rally.

Chen Jin, from mid-to-long range, unleashed a powerful backhand topspin, forcing Lin Zhongxun into a passive defensive stance.

Ye Sijia seized the opportunity and launched a forehand side-step attack.

"Snapped!"

The white ball, like a shooting star, hurtled towards Shen Yubin's backhand corner.

Shen Yubin made a desperate save.

But the ping-pong ball, like an arrow released from a bow, grazed the edge of her racket, flew out, and landed mercilessly on the floor.

11:8.
The score is 3-1.

Won!

Chen Jin and Ye Sijia defeated Lin Zhongxun and Shen Yubin to advance to the mixed doubles final.

The instant the ball hits the ground.

Ye Sijia stood there, unable to believe her eyes.

I paused for a second.

Immediately, immense joy and unbelievable excitement overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.

"us……"

Ye Sijia's voice was choked with sobs and trembling, "You've made it to the finals?"

"Ah."

Chen Jin smiled and nodded, saying, "We've made it to the finals."

Instantly.

Ye Sijia's eyes instantly reddened.

Tears welled up inside, almost spilling over.

Before the tournament, she never expected that her mixed doubles partnership with Chen Jin would make it to the finals of the US Grand Slam.

Even now, there's still a sense of unreality, like being in a dream.

"Now that we've made it to the finals, let's take the championship together!"

Chen Jin smiled slightly.

"it is good!"

Ye Sijia quickly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Pear blossoms glistened with raindrops, and she smiled sweetly.

After shaking hands with the opponents, referees, and others.

Chen Jin and Ye Sijia returned to the sidelines and packed up their equipment.

Then, they slung their backpacks over their shoulders and left side by side.

"I heard your singles opponent tonight is Sun Yingsha?"

Chen Jin said as he walked.

"Ah."

Ye Sijia nodded and sighed softly, "No need to think about it, there's definitely no hope."

Sun Yingsha's strength is beyond doubt.

Prior to this, Ye Sijia and Sun Yingsha had also clashed several times.

However, Ye Sijia lost and went on to pass the high school entrance exam.

Unexpectedly, in the women's singles, she already faced Sun Yingsha in the round of 16.

"come on!"

Chen Jin smiled slightly and encouraged him, "I believe in your abilities!"

"Anyone who can team up with me in doubles must be extraordinary."

That last sentence was said in a half-joking manner.

But that is also the truth.

With Chen Jin's current strength and status, he has almost secured his position as the top player in men's table tennis.

We will definitely devote all our efforts to cultivating them in the future.

Whether it's singles, men's doubles, or mixed doubles, the coaching staff will prioritize finding him the best partner.

The coaching staff's decision to pair Ye Sijia with him in mixed doubles at this US Grand Slam tournament clearly indicates their recognition of Ye Sijia's potential.

Having debuted at the same time as Chen Jin, being of similar age, possessing strong singles skills, and having partnered with Chen Jin before... all these factors combined made Ye Sijia the only choice.

Of course, the pairing of the two seems less dominant than that of Chen Jin and Zhang Jiahao.

However, if they win this mixed doubles championship and achieve results, they may become a regular pair.

"I'm already being kind by not dragging you down."

Ye Sijia blinked, "However, in order for us to win the mixed doubles championship tomorrow, I will also give it my all in tonight's singles!"

If it were to be a singles match tonight, I could really beat Sun Yingsha, such a formidable opponent.

Therefore, morale and mindset will definitely be of great benefit to tomorrow's mixed doubles final.

If you lose...

There's still one night left, enough time to adjust.

(End of this chapter)