Tennis: He's so obedient!

Chapter 192 The Biggest Dark Horse VS The Tennis Demon King
"Brother Jiang, those bastards in China actually accused you of using performance-enhancing drugs!"

Mark looked furious and was very dissatisfied with this behavior.

However, Jiang Hong remained very calm, as he was quite familiar with the nature of those tabloid reporters in China.

"Don't get excited. Let's talk about it after the doping test is over. By the way, have someone collect the number of views and comments, and reinforce that information, understand?"

Mark Jie turned his head and glanced at Jiang Hong.

I initially thought Brother Jiang didn't care because he sounded so nonchalant.

But judging from the current situation, it's clear they're preparing for a powerful attack!
Mark Jie immediately nodded. "Don't worry, Brother Jiang, I'll have my colleagues in China collect the evidence in a bit."

Suddenly, Mark glanced at his watch and then reminded him.

"By the way, Brother Jiang, CCTV said there will be a pre-match interview before the finals, and they're asking if it's convenient for you?"

"Of course!" Jiang Hong nodded.

After all, CCTV is currently the largest media force in China, and expanding the influence of tennis in China is definitely inseparable from CCTV.

"Okay, Brother Jiang, I'll go right away." Mark Jie nodded immediately and left in a hurry after saying that.

After the meal, Fu Yunlong checked Jiang Hong's wrist again.

"It has recovered somewhat, but it will take at least three to five days to fully recover."

"If you are really feeling unwell today, call for a timeout during the game so the medical team can assess you."

"I know!" Jiang Hong nodded and agreed.

However, for Jiang Hong, this championship is a must-win.

Having finally reached the final, the chances of facing Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer in a row during the match are slim.

He knew he might never have the chance to meet her again, so he couldn't simply give up.

Moreover, the main concern with these minor injuries is that they might leave some long-term effects, but for Jiang Hong, who has a cheat system, they have no impact at all.

Jiang Hong then watched clips of Federer's matches in the early stages of the Madrid Masters.

After all, knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to victory in every battle.

……

The CCTV team aimed all sorts of cameras, lights, and long lenses at Jiang Hong.

"If there are no problems, shall we begin?"

Today's reporter is Liu Yang, whom Jiang Hong interviewed before.

"Okay, let's begin!"

Liu Yang turned his head to face the camera, a professional smile on his face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, sitting next to me now is Jiang Hong, who just made history by reaching the final of the Madrid Masters!"

"Jiang Hong, say hello to the viewers across the country who are waiting in front of their televisions!"

Facing the camera, Jiang Hong smiled and waved: "Hello everyone, I'm Jiang Hong. Thank you all for your support."

Liu Yang turned his head, a look of surprise on his face, and said, "Wow! Jiang Hong, you seem very relaxed. You defeated Djokovic yesterday, and today you're facing Federer. How are you feeling?"

Jiang Hong shrugged and joked, "To be honest, I wasn't calm after the match. After all, playing against top players has always been my goal."

"I'm very happy to have made it to the finals. After all, I fought my way through the qualifiers. Facing these top players, I don't feel much pressure because winning would be a huge bonus, and losing wouldn't be a big loss!"

Liu Yang couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this, not expecting Jiang Hong to be so candid.

"By the way, Jiang Hong and we all know that you are a very confident player. So, what are your goals for this highly anticipated competition?"

After a pause, Liu Yang quickly added, "Besides the championship."

After all, given Jiang Hong's personality, what if he were to express his opinion directly?

My goal is to win the championship.

If the result of the competition is not ideal, it could very likely cause a significant public outcry.

Therefore, Liu Yang quickly filled in the gaps in his topic.

Just as Jiang Hong was about to speak, Liu Yang unexpectedly started patching things up again.

Jiang Hong thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Well, I have a small goal now, which is to hit more aces."

After all, he had a suggestion to play at least two aces in his first service game.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yang nodded and said with his blessing, "Jiang Hong, your serve has always been a powerful weapon of yours, and I believe it will be no exception this time."

"Thank you!" Jiang Hong nodded, expressing his gratitude for the blessing.

"Jiang Hong, your series of victories at the Madrid Masters has caused a huge sensation in China. Countless young Chinese tennis players have become interested in or even love tennis because of you. As an idol to these young people, what do you have to give these kids?"

For CCTV, it definitely needs to be elevated.

Moreover, due to Jiang Hong's successive good results, the popularity of tennis soared thanks to domestic media and CCTV's live broadcasts.

Previously, many teenagers discussed basketball and football, but now more people are discussing tennis matches.

This was learned from a conversation between Jiang Hong and Wang Shijie, who also noted that the number of people learning tennis had increased significantly during this period.

This period is the best time to boost the popularity of a sport.

If good results can be achieved, the number of people who like this sport will increase rapidly.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hong smiled happily.

"To be honest, I'm very happy about this news."

"To be honest, when I played tennis at school, it was mostly just my classmates from the club, and sometimes we couldn't even get enough people together for a doubles match."

"I want to say to the kids who love and enjoy tennis: winning or losing isn't that important. Just enjoy the fun that tennis brings!"

what?
You asked Jiang Hong whether he thinks winning or losing is important!
For him, winning or losing is of course important.

Since there's no way to play professionally, of course we should play happily.

The pre-match interview was short and quickly came to an end.

"So, Jiang Hong, is there anything you'd like to say to your fans and viewers watching on TV?" Liu Yang asked the final question.

Jiang Hong thought for a moment, and then gave an answer.

"Thank you so much to all my friends for supporting me in front of the TV or at the stadium."

"I believe the result of this Madrid Masters final will not disappoint everyone."

Jiang Hong's eyes were filled with intense confidence.

Liu Yang, standing next to him, was taken aback, not expecting such confidence.

What other result could satisfy everyone?
Of course, he'll be the champion!

Jiang Hong is facing Roger Federer, the current world number one who has dominated the tennis world for years, in this match!

After regaining his composure, Liu Yang delivered the closing remarks of his pre-match interview.

"Okay, thank you Jiang Hong for accepting our interview. Let's look forward to Jiang Hong's wonderful performance in the final tonight. Go Jiang Hong!"

After the recording ended, the CCTV team simply offered their blessings to Jiang Hong and left.

With the start of the competition drawing ever closer, Jiang Hong had a lot to prepare, so they decided not to disturb him.

The Madrid Masters is generating unprecedented buzz.

One is a dark horse who emerged from the qualifiers and made a name for himself by defeating Nadal and Djokovic; the other is Federer, the elegant gentleman who has dominated the world tennis scene for years.

Will the dark horse continue its dark horse run, or will the champion defend its throne?

The match was already generating a lot of buzz in the media before it even started.

Jiang Hong was directly reported as a dreamer who had never studied tennis before, trained hard, and is now standing in the finals at the Madrid stadium.

Federer, on the other hand, is a gifted and naturally successful chosen one.

Who wouldn't love a story of the underdog defying fate and the underdog turning the tables?

Even many European and American fans were somewhat looking forward to this match.

They both hope Federer will defend his throne and hope the underdog will continue his upset run.

European and American reporters were unhappy that Jiang Hong refused to give them pre-match interviews, but there was nothing they could do, so they could only swarm to harass Federer.

The first to speak was a BBC reporter, who asked, "Roger, your opponent is an 18-year-old Chinese player who defeated Novak in the semifinals. Do you think he is a rising force in tennis, or just a flash in the pan?"

Federer wore a polite smile and leaned forward.

“I watched Jiang’s match live last night, and I also watched some recordings of his previous matches.”

"His style is very impressive, whether it's his serve or his baseline game."

"As for whether Jiang Hong's talent is a flash in the pan or a rising force in the tennis world, unfortunately I am not a fortune teller and cannot answer your question."

Federer then changed the subject, continuing, "However, based on my previous research on Jiang, he has consistently shown improvement in his matches, and I believe that the tennis world will have a new top player."

The reporter was not happy with this answer; what she was hoping for was a sensational and controversial topic.

A Spanish tabloid held up a microphone and began asking questions.

"Roger, Jiang Hong defeated Nadal and Djokovic in quick succession. Both matches were very physically demanding, but Jiang Hong didn't seem to have any problems with his stamina. Do you think his rise was unnatural, or that tonight he was fighting for clean tennis in some way?"

The reporter next to him immediately brightened up. Well done, that's the question.

Upon hearing this, Federer's expression instantly turned serious.

“I have noticed the implication in your question, and I must respond clearly. It is dangerous and irresponsible to imply that a player is ‘unclean’ without any factual basis. I trust the procedures of the ATP and the Anti-Doping Agency.”

"Jiang Hong has passed all the tests, and the doping control laboratory will provide authoritative proof. I believe my opponent is a respectable and excellent athlete, and tonight will be a pure tennis match, nothing more."

"Sir, I think I will be unable to grant you interviews in the future."

Upon hearing this, Federer's team immediately asked the other person to leave.

Because of the lessons learned from the past, although other reporters still wanted to stir things up, they had no choice but to behave themselves at this point.

After all, Federer is a tennis superstar and the tennis player with the most fans.

If I offend them, I believe the newspaper will definitely fire me without hesitation in exchange for their forgiveness.

Why would you risk your life for a prize of a few hundred euros?
And these pre-match interviews inevitably involve domestic reporters. For example, CCTV also sent a reporter to interview Federer.

CCTV Reporter: "Roger, good evening. First of all, congratulations on reaching the Madrid final again. Your opponent in the final will be 18-year-old Jiang Hong from China, who has won all the way from the qualifying rounds, including defeating Nadal and Djokovic. What do you think of this rising star? What are your expectations for tonight's 'youth versus peak' match?"

Federer has played in the ATP Finals in China several times, so he is not particularly unfamiliar with CCTV.

Knowing it was a very authoritative media outlet in China, he still answered the question with a smile.

"Thank you. Yes, I noticed this young man; his performance was indeed remarkable."

His tone was appreciative, yet also very nonchalant.

"At such a young age, starting from the qualifiers and defeating strong opponents to reach the finals proves that he has extraordinary potential and a strong mentality. This is not easy."

He paused briefly, then his tone shifted to one of calm analysis based on his own absolute strength.

"As for tonight's match, my view is clear: it's a completely new challenge for me. I don't know much about him, so I need to read him quickly and adapt during the match. His shots are powerful and full of fearless impact, which will be very interesting."

"But at the same time," Federer's gaze became focused, revealing the confidence of a world number one, "I believe in my tennis, I believe in everything I have at this stage—my technique, my experience, and my control of the game. No matter who my opponent is, where they come from, or how old they are, I have only one goal when I stand on the final court."

"That's the champion!"

Federer's declaration of a champion reflects his immense self-confidence.

Although he believed that Jiang Hong was indeed no ordinary person, he did not think he would lose to him.

After the pre-match interviews, various media outlets resorted to sensationalist headlines to attract viewers and attention.

Time flies, and before we knew it, it was 6 p.m. Madrid time.

The Madrid stadium, which can hold 10,500 people, was already packed.

Although Nadal, playing on home soil, has already been eliminated.

However, as the player with the greatest appeal and influence at present, Federer's matches will never lack an audience.

The tickets were sold out instantly as soon as they were released.

The fans who came to support Jiang Hong only managed to grab a little over 1000 tickets.

For Jiang Hong, this match was entirely an away game.

Even though the weather in Madrid in October is already quite cool, every fan in the stadium is already getting restless.

"start!"

At the command, Zhang Sheng and Zhan Jun, who were in the broadcasting studio of the Madrid Stadium, immediately sat up straight.

Zhang Sheng was the first to speak, his voice loud and clear, revealing his excitement.

Good evening, everyone!

"Thank you for staying up until the early hours of the morning to witness this night that will forever be etched in the history of Chinese sports!"

"We are now in the Madrid Arena in Madrid, Spain, providing live commentary on the men's singles final of the 2007 ATP Madrid Masters!"

At this moment, Zhan Jun, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up as well.

As a commentator, my goal is to be able to commentate on important and classic matches.

This match is undoubtedly a very high-profile one.

Zhan Jun's passionate voice also rang out, "That's right, Coach Zhang Sheng. At this moment, my feelings are the same as all Chinese tennis fans—incredibly excited, even somewhat incredulous."

"Right here on the court in front of us, an unprecedented showdown is about to take place – our 18-year-old Chinese prodigy, Jiang Hong, who has stormed through the qualifying rounds with some upsets, will challenge the world's number one ranked player and the undisputed king of tennis – Roger Federer!"

Zhang Sheng turned his head and glanced at Zhan Jun, feeling that the other party was even more excited than he, a self-proclaimed champion of Jiang.

"Yes, Zhan Jun! This is not just a game, it's a historic breakthrough!"

"Jiang Hong, this name was still very unfamiliar to the world tennis scene just a few days ago, but now, with a series of thrilling victories, especially defeating Nadal in the quarterfinals and defeating Djokovic in the semifinals, he has made the whole world remember this young man from the East!"

"Tonight, he stands on the stage of the final battle, carrying the expectations of hundreds of millions of Chinese viewers!"

Zhan Jun felt that he was no match for Zhang Sheng in flattery, so he decided to take a different approach.

"Let's take a look at the background of this match. Jiang Hong is ranked 91st in the world (based on weekly ranking updates), but the strength he has shown in this tournament, especially his cruise missile-like serve and iron will, has overturned everyone's perception."

The two of them chatted back and forth, as if they were trying to outdo each other, and it almost turned into a word chain game.

Meanwhile, viewers in front of their TVs were getting impatient, with posts on tennis forums flooding the screen with complaints.

Is it still open?

Is this a sports competition or an idiom contest?

[Gather, forum members! The Cyber ​​coaching team is reporting for duty!]

[Jiang Shen, go easy on Federer!]

I finally caught a glimpse of the scene.

Zhang Sheng immediately became serious, "Alright, viewers, the players from both sides are about to enter the field, please prepare your shouts and cheers."

……

"ladies and gentlemen!"

The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers, and the entire stadium went dark instantly, leaving only a spotlight shining on the entrance to the players' tunnel.

"First of all—let's welcome, from Switzerland! 12-time Grand Slam champion! World No. 1—Roger Federer!!!"

"boom--!!!"

The deafening roar almost lifted the roof off.

To the iconic rhythm of Queen's "We Will Rock You," Federer, carrying his signature white tennis bag, walked out with elegant and precise steps.

"Federer! Federer! Federer!"

The unified shouts resounded through the sky.

He walked to the sidelines, put down his bag, and began to methodically organize his racket, his movements calm and unhurried, as if this were not a Masters final but an afternoon training session.

Federer also has quite a few fans in China.

So elegant, so incredibly elegant!

[Warning! Warning! Detected wearing BOSS attire, combat power at least 10000.]

[King of Pop: Another day of receiving awards.]

Immediately afterwards, the host's voice suddenly rose in pitch, filled with the excitement of introducing the beginning of a legend:
"And his opponent...!"

The scene fell silent for a moment, and all eyes, including Federer's, were turned to the still-dark tunnel.

"From China! Only eighteen years old! A super dark horse who won all the way from the qualifiers, and even defeated Nadal and Djokovic last night! Jiang Hong!!!"

"BOOM—!"

A powerful and impactful rendition of "The Final Game" suddenly explodes into the air!
At the entrance of the passage, Jiang Hong's figure stepped into the spotlight!

His expression was calm, and he carried his golf bag as he surveyed the vast stadium and the roaring stands.

He clenched his fist and raised it upwards, responding to the sudden burst of cheers in Chinese from the stands!

"Jiang Hong! Go for it! Jiang Hong! Go for it!"

Although the scale of these voices was not as exaggerated as Federer's, each voice was still shouting out with all its might.

However, Jiang Hong understood that his compatriots had come from afar to cheer him on.

With Jiang Hong's appearance, the discussion threads on the tennis forum started refreshing even more frantically.

[His entrance pose was incredibly cool!]

[I also bought Jiang Shen's battle robe, but why isn't it this cool?! They sent me a fake, the seller's photos are terrible!]

Is it possible that the problem lies with the people involved?

Jiang Hong turned his head and looked at Federer not far away.

The current world number one, let's start the challenge from the Madrid Masters!

Federer gave Jiang Hong a friendly smile upon seeing him.

Jiang Hong's gaze swept across the room and he saw Federer neatly arranging his six rackets in a row.

A thought couldn't help but pop into his mind.

What reward would you get for cutting his wires?

However, Jiang Hong eventually dismissed the idea, since he didn't know what the reward would be, but punishment was definitely inevitable.

Federer was somewhat surprised by Jiang Hong's calm demeanor.

After all, most young players either get nervous and underperform when facing themselves.

Either their eyes are filled with a strong fighting spirit, ready to bring you down.

Jiang Hong's calm demeanor was unlike that of a young player.

Ok?
Did he glance at my racket?
After returning to the rest area, Jiang Hong put down his golf bag and tidied it up.

I had just finished tidying up when the referee called me to the net.

Jiang Hong and Federer came to opposite sides of the net and looked at each other.

"Gentlemen, please choose which side of the coin to choose," the referee suddenly announced.

"A head!" Jiang Hong.

"Words!" Federer.

Jiang Hong and Federer surprisingly spoke in unison.

The referee glanced at the two of them. "Since there are no objections, let's start the coin toss."

With a flick of the finger, the coin spun, bounced, and traced an arc in the air before finally landing on the ground.

The referee bent down to determine the coin's orientation.

"Character!"

(End of this chapter)