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

Chapter 503 Canary Couple? This is not a good thing.

Won!

we won!

We are the champions!
The moment the ball hit the ground, Ye Sijia clenched her fists, raised her hands, and waved them forcefully, as if trying to smash the air in front of her.

It felt as if something was about to burst forth from his chest.

But the sound was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't make a sound.

The thunderous cheers and applause at the scene became somewhat blurred at this moment.

All that could be heard was the thunderous sound of a heartbeat.

My vision was blurred.

She tilted her head back, trying to blink away the moisture that was gradually rising in front of her eyes.

However, the moisture became increasingly concentrated.

Ultimately, they turned into two lines of tears, breaking free from the constraints of their eye sockets, and quietly slid down their cheeks.

It mingled with the sweat on my face.

This is her first WTT Grand Slam-level mixed doubles title!

At the same time, he was also the first Grand Slam-level champion!
It meant a lot to her!
not to mention.

This time, the US Grand Slam was a last-minute pairing with Chen Jinnai, a situation that felt like being forced into a situation.

The two players are also a right-handed combination, which puts them at a natural disadvantage in terms of positioning and coordination.

From the initial training and exploration at the beginning of the team's formation to the stumbles and setbacks on the field, the doubts from the outside world and the anxiety in her heart, only she herself knows best.

The journey has been fraught with peril, like walking on thin ice.

He was afraid that he would drag Chen Jin down because of himself, causing Chen Jin's first professional defeat to be caused by his own terrible teammate.

The psychological pressure they bear is unimaginable to most people.

Fortunately, despite the hardships, she persevered.

And now, it has blossomed and borne fruit.

Together with Chen Jin, they defeated all the powerful opponents and finally reached the top.

Every experience is God's most beautiful arrangement.

How could Ye Sijia not be moved to tears?
The key point is that the gains from partnering with Chen Jin in mixed doubles go far beyond just a championship title.

Whether in matches or training, Ye Sijia benefited greatly from his almost demanding pace, his pursuit of precise control over the landing point, and his calm and clear tactical thinking even in fierce confrontations.

Her footwork, while covering the entire stage, became more precise and accurate.

Her reaction speed became even faster when facing continuous heavy artillery fire.

Under Chen Jin's guidance, her sense of positioning became more cunning and calculating.

Most importantly.

On the field, fighting alongside top players and under immense pressure, they are still able to execute tactics steadily.

The cultivation of mindset is something that no amount of individual training can provide.

Ye Sijia knew very well that her victory over world number one Sun Yingsha and her formidable foreign rival Hayata Hina in the women's singles at the US Grand Slam was no accident or a fluke.

To a large extent, it was this mixed doubles experience that brought about a comprehensive transformation.

Doubles can improve the results of singles!
Moreover, this mixed doubles title has boosted her confidence for her upcoming singles matches.

"Whoo~"

Ye Sijia took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly.

But then he saw his partner, with a smile on his face, raise his right palm and move closer to him.

"Well played."

Chen Jin's voice was soft and his tone gentle, "Thank you for your hard work."

It felt like a gentle spring breeze.

Yet it pierced through all the noise of the scene and clearly reached Ye Sijia's ears.

Without much embellishment, these six simple words seem to contain immense weight.

Ye Sijia nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face once again.

She stepped forward and gently embraced Chen Jin.

This is a hug between comrades-in-arms.

It is gratitude for each other's achievements.

It's also the excitement of sharing the honor.

“Wow——!!!”

This scene caused the cheers from the fans at the scene to reach their peak instantly.

Like a surging tide, it is overwhelming.

It looked like they were going to tear the entire stadium ceiling off.

After a rush.

The two then parted ways, smiling, and walked toward Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, who had been waiting for a long time.

Although Lin Shidong and Kuai Man lost and felt regret, their eyes showed more recognition of their opponents and sincere congratulations.

Both players gave it their all in this match.

However, Chen Jin and Ye Sijia's performance, tactical thinking, and on-the-spot adjustments were all better than theirs.

The champion title is well-deserved.

"Congratulations."

Lin Shidong grasped Chen Jin's hand and shook it vigorously, "Remember to treat me to a meal."

"necessary."

Chen Jin smiled and patted Lin Shidong's arm.

And the other side.

Kuai Man walked up to Ye Sijia and hugged her with a smile: "Sijia, congratulations, you played so well."

"Thank you, Sister Man."

Ye Sijia's eyes were blurry with tears.

When it was Lin Shidong's turn to shake hands with Ye Sijia, he brought up the old topic again: "Remember to treat me to a meal."

"no problem."

Ye Sijia stopped crying and smiled, her smile radiant. "Choose any place you like."

Back on the sidelines, I packed up my gear.

Ye Sijia picked up her backpack and prepared to leave.

"Leaving now?"

Chen Jin quickly called her to stop.

"what?"

Ye Sijia was taken aback.

"Interview."

Chen Jin pointed to the center of the field.

At this moment, staff members were setting up two standing microphones.

"Oh."

Ye Sijia then realized what was happening.

He stuck out his tongue and put down the backpack he had just picked up.

Shortly after.

The host's voice sounded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the 2025 WTT US Grand Slam Mixed Doubles Champion with the warmest applause and cheers!"

"Chen Jin!"

"Ye Sijia!"

Amidst deafening applause, the two walked to the interview area.

"First of all, congratulations to the two of you on winning the mixed doubles championship."

The host wore a bright, professional smile. "This should be your first mixed doubles championship as a team. How do you feel right now?"

As he spoke, he handed the microphone to Chen Jin.

"Thank you."

Chen Jin's breathing had calmed down, and his voice was as steady as ever. "Strictly speaking, this is our second mixed doubles title as a team, but it is indeed WTT's first."

"I'm quite happy to have won this championship."

There was a pause.

He added, "This championship is also the best reward for the joint efforts of me and Ye Sijia."

"Ye Sijia, we just saw you cry tears of joy at the end of the competition."

The host turned the microphone excitedly to Ye Sijia, "How would you rate your partner sitting next to you?"

"Um, I think..."

Ye Sijia took a deep breath, turned her head to look at Chen Jin beside her, her eyes full of admiration and gratitude, "Chen Jin's strength and achievements are obvious to all. I don't think I'm qualified to comment on him."

"However, I feel very lucky and I cherish the opportunity to fight alongside such a great partner in this mixed doubles competition."

"I learned a lot throughout the process."

"So, besides being happy and excited, I feel mostly grateful."

The host was clearly prepared.

He glanced down at the script and then posed a question.

"We have noticed that your performance this time not only won you the championship, but also won you the love of many fans."

The words have not yet fallen.

The fans in the stands cheered.

The host continued, "Online, many fans refer to your pairing as 'The Canary.' What are your thoughts on this couple name?"

This statement came out.

Excited screams erupted from the crowd.

It was as if the soul of the Eight Trigrams was burning fiercely.

But Chen Jin frowned slightly.

The gentle expression on his face quickly vanished.

Instead, there is a clear sense of boundaries.

"First of all, thank you to all the fans for your support and love."

Chen Jin leaned closer to the microphone, his tone unusually serious, "However, I need to clarify that we are not a couple."

"Ye Sijia and I are teammates, partners who fight side by side."

"Our goal is to compete together and win glory for our country."

"We hope everyone will focus more on our performance on the field and the game itself, rather than shipping us as a couple."

The implication is that they are cutting ties with the CP (couple pairing) fandom.

Ye Sijia, standing to the side, immediately nodded and solemnly said, "Yes, Chen Jin and I share the same thought."

"We are teammates and partners, but definitely not a couple. I hope everyone can focus more on table tennis and the competition."

Both of them made their statements decisively and efficiently.

Clearly, they wanted to nip this unhealthy trend of CP (couple pairing) targeting the two of them in the bud.

After all, the core of competitive sports is performance.

The intrusion of fan groups will only pollute the purity of competition and will never be a good thing for the players and the team atmosphere.

Unfortunately, many things are beyond the control of Chen Jin and Ye Sijia.

Just like Fan Zhendong, who has spoken out on many occasions.

But the fan community has never truly left him.
The interview is over.

Following that was the awards ceremony.

The process was simple yet solemn.

Chen Jin and Ye Sijia lifted the mixed doubles championship trophy and posed for a group photo with Lin Shidong and Kuai Man.

The awards ceremony was completed quickly.

Holding the trophy, I returned backstage.

The noise was shut out behind me, giving me a feeling of being in another world.

"it is finally over."

Ye Sijia wiped the trophy clean and cleaned it again before carefully putting it back in her backpack.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Chen Jin smiled slightly, "Go back and rest early."

"What about you?"

Ye Sijia was slightly taken aback and looked at Chen Jin.

"Coach Wang and Jiahao are still waiting for me."

Chen Jin spoke calmly.

"what?"

Ye Sijia frowned, seemingly indignant on Chen Jinming's behalf, "You played three games today, and it's so late already. You still have to work overtime tonight?"

"Fortunately."

Chen Jin smiled.

His smile revealed a hint of habitual resilience: "Tomorrow's men's doubles final against Ahn Jae-hyun and Lim Jong-hoon will be a tough battle, and we can't be careless."

Knowing that there was no point in trying to persuade her otherwise, Ye Sijia stopped trying.

"Then...you should get some rest too."

Ye Sijia said, "I'm leaving now."

After separating from Ye Sijia.

Chen Jin stretched his limbs, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and headed straight for the lounge.

open the door.

Xie Mingyang and Zhang Jiahao had been waiting for a long time.

"Brother Jin, you're awesome!"

As soon as Chen Jin entered, Zhang Jiahao immediately jumped up from his chair, exclaiming, "Another championship is in our hands!"

"Your canary today has gone completely berserk!"

To know.

Lin Shidong and Kuai Man, this anime duo, are currently the world's number one mixed doubles pair.

He is also the top seed in mixed doubles at this year's US Grand Slam.

According to the coaching staff, the temporary arrangement of Chen Jin and Ye Sijia as a mixed doubles pair was not aimed at winning the championship.

Rather, it was intended for training and strategic arrangement.

Lin Shidong and Kuai Man were the main forces that won the championship.

As for Chen Jin and Ye Sijia, making it to the top four would be considered a success.

But to everyone's surprise, Chen Jin and Ye Sijia actually made it to the finals.

They even snatched the championship right from the hands of the anime group.

"What canary?"

Chen Jin frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction in his expression.

But Zhang Jiahao didn't seem to notice.

He leaned closer and chuckled.

"Brother Jin, you might not know this yet."

Zhang Jiahao's face showed a hint of envy, "You and Ye Sijia, this pair of canaries, are much more popular than our 'Golden Armor Duo'."

"The comments section is full of people shipping these couples!"

He shrieked, deliberately mimicking the tone of a fan, "'Ahhhhh~ The Canary Duo, they're a perfect match for me!' 'Ahhhhh... their eyes are practically drooling!'"

"Wow, this has generated even more discussion than when we won the men's doubles title at the Doha World Table Tennis Championships."

"In my opinion, if this trend continues, 'Canary' will eventually surpass 'Gauze Head'..."

The words were not finished.

He then noticed that Chen Jin's expression was rather unpleasant.

Suddenly realizing something, he quickly shut up.

"This is not a good thing."

Chen Jin let out a cold snort.

He and Ye Sijia only won a WTT mixed doubles championship.

They're not world champions or Olympic champions.

Logically speaking, it shouldn't have caused much of a stir.

But now it has stirred up a huge wave.

This sudden surge in CP (couple pairing) fever must be fueled by someone behind the scenes.

In an era where traffic is king, a contestant's achievements and the topics they generate can easily be targeted by certain forces for packaging and hype.

This can be a potential distraction for athletes who need to maintain absolute focus.

"You may think it's not a good thing, but you can't stop others from thinking the same way."

Xie Mingyang spoke up.

Clearly, he also felt that this was unusual.

"Don't pay attention to these off-field matters for now, so as not to get too distracted."

Xie Mingyang looked at Chen Jin and said, "Focusing on the game is the key."

"Whether you like or hate couples, it means you care too much, and that's the problem."

A word to awaken the dreamer.

Chen Jin was startled and nodded, saying, "That's right."

There are two tough matches to play tomorrow, especially the men's singles match against Tomokazu Harimoto.

One must remain clear-headed and undisturbed by any external influences.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Jin forcibly suppressed the chaotic thoughts in his mind.

Tomorrow's schedule is not as tight and rushed as the three matches a day in the previous days.

The men's doubles final will be held at 1 p.m.

The South Korean pair, Ahn Jae-hyun and Lim Jong-hoon, will face off.

The highly anticipated men's singles semi-final match against Tomokazu Harimoto will take place around 7 p.m.

There are five or six hours in between, enough time to rest and adjust.

"Ahn Jae-hyun was in good form in today's singles match, and he was on fire."

As Chen Jin took out clean clothes and toiletries from his backpack, he said, "Lin Zhongxun is also quite strong; he's a formidable opponent."

"In good shape? Not weak at all?"

Zhang Jiahao grinned, cracked his neck, and said with a slight snap, "I'll still crush them!"

His entire being radiated fighting spirit.

It was as if the racket was thirsty and eager to defeat its opponent.

"IMHO."

Zhang Jiahao raised his chin, full of confidence, "What could defeat our 'Golden Armor Combination' is probably just a drop of liquid right now."

(End of this chapter)