Tennis: He's so obedient!

Chapter 208: The Round of 16 Results - Popularity Soars, Upset Seeds!
[Live Stream Post]

[Jiang Shen has reached match point for the second time, Davydenko serves!]

[With the baseline game in a stalemate, Jiang Shen placed a small ball.]

[Davydenko makes a successful save.]

[Jiang Shen intercepts at the net.]

[We won! Jiang Shen is awesome!]

After the live stream announced Jiang Hong's victory, the forum instantly became lively.

"Awesome, Jiang Shen!"

"The description from the original poster sounds amazing, it's a pity I didn't get to see Jiang Shen's performance."

"Exactly, why isn't CCTV broadcasting this match live?"

"The main thing is that during this period, we've been broadcasting Jiang Shen's matches. It seems that other sports have objections, but it would be a real shame if this match wasn't broadcast."

"Some people said before that Davydenko lost to Jiang Shen just because he was not in good form, but this time he is in good form."

"The original poster mentioned that Jiang Shen uses a between-the-legs shot, which reminded me of some bad memories (crying)."

"Hiss, did you fail to use it?"

"It's quite possible. After all, even professional player Temuraz made a mistake when he hit the ball between his legs, resulting in a broken ball."

"Jiang Shen's between-the-legs shot is truly a sight to behold."

"I will definitely buy a ticket to watch Jiang Shen play in China next time."

"It's a pity that Jiang Shen can't participate in this year's Masters Cup, otherwise I would definitely go to watch. I can only wait for next year's China Open."

Soon, the thread on the forum went off-topic.

"No, I can't watch the next game yet. I have to leave a message on CCTV to request a live broadcast of Jiang Shen's next game."

"I'll go too, I'll go too."

"Let's go, let's all go together."

Not long after, a group of people went to the CCTV public message board in the middle of the night to leave messages.

After all, there weren't many online platforms at that time.

And they basically don't stream live, only occasionally uploading some match videos.

So, if the TV station doesn't broadcast it live, viewers really have nowhere to watch it.

Meanwhile, at the Bercy Stadium in Paris, after a brief silence, cheers erupted instantly.

"Jiang Shen, you're awesome!"

"Davydenko was cut down from his horse."

"Let's advance to the next round!"

Besides Chinese fans, other European and American fans were also very excited.

After all, who doesn't enjoy a dark horse storyline where the underdog rises to the top?

Although Jiang Hong is no longer a complete dark horse.

After all, some achievements have been made, but no one knows whether it will be a flash in the pan.

But now it seems that another rising star has emerged in the tennis world.

Unable to pronounce Jiang Hong's given name, they could only call out his surname.

"Jiang! Jiang!"

French and English mingled together, eventually merging into a single sound.

Meanwhile, there were also scattered voices calling out to Jiang Hong.

"Victoire!" (Victory!)
"Bravo!"

“Magnifique!”

However, not everyone was happy, such as the gruff Russian men in the stands.

He was cursing under his breath at that moment.

"Sukabule!"

To be honest, Jiang Hong was also very excited to win this game.

Because during the match, although the scores of the two sets seemed quite lopsided.

However, Jiang Hong also faced considerable pressure during this process.

For example, Davydenko broke serve right at the start of the first set.

After finding some weaknesses in his opponent's game in the middle game, Davydenko would also hide his weaknesses in a very short time.

In the second set, the match was also very intense, with both players vying for the win.

Jiang Hong clenched his fists tightly and raised his hand to shout.

"Game, set, match, Jiang Hong! 6-3, 6-2!"

The referee's voice sounded.

Jiang Hong turned to look at Davydenko, who was still looking down with a dejected expression.

Davydenko suddenly looked up and his gaze met Jiang Hong's.

I suddenly thought of how the tennis world evaluates me.

No talent!

I am already 26 years old this year, and my injuries are gradually becoming apparent.

This year, he was embroiled in controversy surrounding gambling on football due to a stress fracture.

Although his ranking is very high, he has participated in far more matches than other TOP10 players.

To date, my highest honor is last year's Paris Masters title.

When I saw the young man opposite me win the Madrid Masters.

He also hopes to further enrich his list of honors.

But in the end, he lost to this 18-year-old boy.

He took a deep breath, then walked to the net, waiting for the winner.

The more matches I participated in, the more matches I lost.

I've also gotten used to the feeling of failure.

However, today was more of a stimulus for myself.

At that moment, Jiang Hong turned around and jogged towards the net.

The other party shook hands, and Davydenko spoke first.

"Congratulations, Jiang, you defeated the champion of the previous Paris Masters. I hope my good luck in Paris last year can be passed on to you."

A smile appeared on the other person's face, and their earlier disappointment had vanished.

“Nikola, you’re much tougher than last time. If I hadn’t changed my tactics in time, the outcome today would have been completely different,” Jiang Hong said frankly to his opponent.

“But there are no ‘ifs’ in reality!” Davydenko shook his head and said seriously, “A loss is a loss, and you can adjust your state and tactics during the game, which I couldn’t do!”

He then looked at Jiang Hong seriously and said, "Moreover, the level you showed in the competition today deserves this victory!"

Davydenko didn't say much, just waved his hand.

"Alright, enjoy your victory, I'm leaving now!"

After speaking, Davydenko turned and walked toward the referee.

After shaking hands with the head referee, Jiang Hong turned to look at the stands.

Interact with the fans who come to support you!

"Jiang Shen, over here!"

Jiang Hong walked to the edge of the stands and shook hands with the fans.

Then, as is customary, a racket and several tennis balls were given away.

After taking photos with the fan club and supporters, they finished their interaction in the stands and went into the players' tunnel.

Just as I entered the locker room, I suddenly heard the sound of a cork coming loose.

Then a stream of foam sprayed towards Jiang Hong.

Jiang Hong was taken aback by this.

"Old Jiang, congratulations on winning another match," Li Gong said with a grin, his face beaming with excitement.

Jiang Hong looked at the champagne in Li Gong's hand and couldn't help but complain.

"Old Li, we're only in the second round of the Paris Masters, and you're already popping champagne at halftime!"

The infamous moment when AC Milan opened champagne at halftime was a well-known incident that made them famous throughout the sports world.

Li Gong shook his head and said emphatically.

"We're celebrating this victory for you! And since I wasn't there when it happened in Madrid, isn't this making up for it?"

Actually, it was because Li Gong felt that Jiang Hong had already completed his mission.

Back when the Madrid Masters was held, some in the tennis world thought Jiang Hong's talent was just a flash in the pan.

Jiang Hong's continued dominance at the Paris Masters, where he defeated world number four Davydenko, speaks volumes.

Moreover, even the world's top players are not guaranteed to achieve good results in the Masters tournament.

Therefore, Jiang Hong's current result of reaching the top 16 is already quite good.

After all, there are no weak opponents in the Masters tournament main draw.

Of course, Li Gong also hopes that Jiang Hong's performance will continue to improve.

"Forget it, don't open champagne for me next time. I'm going to take a shower!" Jiang Hong waved his hand, not really liking the feeling of champagne on his skin.

I went into the bathroom, took a shower, and changed my clothes.

As soon as I came out, I was called by the event organizing committee staff to do a post-match interview.

"Hello, Jiang Hong, congratulations on your victory in the match, successfully defeating the previous Paris Masters champion!" It was Lasha interviewing Jiang Hong again, but compared to last time, she pronounced the name very accurately this time, she had practiced for a long time after going back.

Jiang Hong lived up to his training expectations and successfully won the interview.

"Thank you. I'm also very excited to have defeated Nikola. He was a formidable opponent!" Jiang Hong nodded and said very honestly.

"By the way, you hit several behind-the-back shots in the second set. Is that your secret weapon?" Lasha gestured as she spoke.

However, the movements looked slightly comical.

"Hmm~" Jiang Hong pondered for a moment, then replied, "It wasn't exactly a deliberate preparation, but I just felt that hitting the ball this way was more convenient at the time, it was probably a subconscious action!"

Of course, he couldn't say that he hit the ball that way because it looked cool!

Lasha asked a few more questions, which Jiang Hong answered with ease.

“Okay, one last question, what are your thoughts on your next opponent?” Lasha asked Jiang Hong.

Jiang Hong blinked at the question, and finally asked a question in return.

"Um, I still don't know who my next opponent is, do you?"

Because when Jiang Hong started the match, his opponent's side had not yet finished their battle.

As for his memories, he only focused on the champion and a few top players.

On the other side are Ljubicic and Baghdatis.

Ljubicic and Jiang Hong had played against each other before, but Jiang Hong didn't know much about the other player. "Baghdatis defeated Ljubicic 6-4 and 7-6 (4), so your next opponent is Baghdatis!"

Jiang Hong blinked, looking somewhat confused.

To be honest, I don't know anything about their playing style or anything like that.

Finally, Jiang Hong said with a firm gaze, "I'm sorry, I don't know him very well, but I will try my best to win the game so that I can stand here and give this interview!"

Although there are post-match interviews even when the team loses, they are generally not conducted here.

If there is no injury after the match, you must give an interview to reporters, or you will be fined.

Many players choose to pay fines rather than give interviews in order to avoid being criticized by reporters.

Lasha blushed upon hearing this, and the way she looked at Jiang Hong changed.

I hope your wish comes true!

Jiang Hong looked completely bewildered. "Why are you blushing like that?"
Lasha said to the camera, "Okay, thank you very much, Jiang Hong, for accepting our interview!"

After the photographer turned off the camera, Lasha turned her head, "Jiang..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Hong waved his hand and left without looking back.

"I go first!"

Jiang Hong planned to go back for physical therapy first, and also take a look at his opponent's information.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Davydenko also gave an interview to reporters after the match.

First, there's the Russian media.

"Davydenko, were you too careless in the match? You actually lost to an 18-year-old Chinese boy!"

Faced with the other party's offer of a way out, Davydenko paused for a moment before speaking.

"No, I take my opponent Jiang Hong very seriously. He is not an ordinary teenager. He is the champion of this year's Madrid Masters and the youngest Top 50 player."

A reporter nearby, eager to stir up trouble, immediately thought of Del Potro, who had been provoked earlier.

"Mr. Davydenko, you were defeated by Jiang Hong when you were ranked outside the top three hundred. Now you've been defeated again. Do you think you'll become his male servant?"

Davydenko appeared remarkably calm in the face of this question.

"Jiang Hong's skills and tactics are excellent as a player, and his talent far surpasses mine. If things continue on the normal trajectory, the difficulty of our future matches will only increase. But I will never give up and will strive to change our winning percentage!"

The last to speak was a reporter from China, who was surprised that Davydenko held Jiang Hong in such high regard.

"Davydenko, what kind of achievements do you think Jiang Hong will be able to achieve in the future?"

Faced with this question, Davydenko thought for a moment and then answered.

“I don’t know, but barring serious injuries or other unforeseen circumstances, I think he will surpass my achievements. As for Grand Slams…” Davyden paused, then continued, “Masters tournaments and Grand Slams are completely different; they also require luck, the draw, and various other factors!”

……

Although Jiang Hong didn't feel too tired, having Fu Yunlong to relieve his fatigue was just right.

Jiang Hong lay on the physiotherapy bed, and Fu Yunlong helped Jiang Hong relieve his muscles.

Meanwhile, Mark Jie was explaining the opponent's information to Jiang Hong.

"Brother Jiang, your next opponent is Baghdatis, born on June 17, 1985. He's a Cypriot player who won the Australian Open junior title and the Orange Bowl in 2003..."

Another young prodigy! But judging from the fact that Jiang Hong doesn't seem to have much of an impression of this boy, his professional career hasn't been very smooth.

Don't get me wrong, this orange bowl isn't the orange bowl from American football.

The Orange Bowl is a junior tennis tournament, also known as the Junior Grand Slam.

Federer, Murray, and Del Potro have all won the Orange Bowl, which also influences ITF rankings and can be considered a stepping stone for junior players to advance their careers.

Jiang Hong then nodded, signaling Mark Jie to continue.

"Since turning professional, he has won two ATP Tour singles titles so far, one at last year's China Open and the other at this year's Zagreb Open. He also reached the final of last year's Australian Open and finished as runner-up, and reached the semifinals of last year's Wimbledon."

Jiang Hong's expression became much more serious; his ability to reach the finals of a Grand Slam was certainly not to be underestimated.

Although some Grand Slam runners-up may have had draw-related issues.

However, Baghdatis' Grand Slam journey still has some merit.

As an unseeded player, he eliminated three top-ten seeds—Roddick, Ljubicic, and Nalbandian—to reach the final.

Jiang Hong silently raised the threat level of the other party.

I then watched Baghdatis's match videos and found that his style was quite distinctive.

After the physical therapy session ended and Mark Jie and the others left, Jiang Hong was left alone in the room.

Then I reflected on what I had gained from the match.

"By advancing to the round of 16, we can earn 75 points and a prize of $25000."

Earning more points now will help you secure a better draw for next year's Australian Open.

……

With the round of 16 matches underway, coupled with the hype surrounding Davydenko's title as the reigning Paris Masters champion and world number four, the competition intensifies.

As a result, media coverage has increased.

People's Daily, front page sports column.

Chinese teenagers shine in Paris, advancing to the round of 16 in straight sets.

"(Special correspondent Liu Yuan reports from Paris) In the Paris Masters, which concluded early this morning, my country's tennis star Jiang Hong defeated Russia's world number four, Davydenko, 6-3, 6-2..."

Tennis superstar Davydenko was utterly outmaneuvered by Jiang Hong.

"I witnessed a wildly imaginative tennis performance at the Bercy Arena in Paris, leaving world number four Davydenko completely bewildered..."

ESPN Tennis Column.

"Jiang's Magic Show Stuns Paris"

"Data analysis shows that Jiang's net play percentage was as high as 100% in this match, which is incredible against Davydenko, who is known for his defense... Perhaps Jiang Hong is changing the tactics of tennis..."

Japanese media, on the other hand, are fully embracing their own chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) spirit.

Asahi Shimbun Sports Section
"Chinese 18-year-old Magic's Tatsumi World 4-Bit Breaker"

(An 18-year-old Chinese player defeats the world's fourth-ranked tennis player with magic tennis)
"From Madrid to Paris, this young Chinese man is redefining Asian tennis. His shots, which seem to defy the laws of physics, may herald a new era for the sport..."

Although many seeds were eliminated in the second round of the Paris Masters, such as 7th seed Gonzalez, 13th seed Ljubicic, and 14th seed Moya.

However, the highest-ranked seed is undoubtedly world number four Davydenko.

After all, Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are not out yet.

However, Djokovic almost messed up during the ball control process, and actually scored 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), directly going to two tiebreaks before finally winning.

However, his next match is against Murray, and it remains to be seen whether he can live up to his pre-match ambition and meet Jiang Hong in the final.

The biggest problem is that Nalbandian was also placed in the upper half of the draw.

Anyway, getting into the finals should be quite difficult.

……

Zhang Sheng and Zhan Jun are quite anxious lately because they are currently in Paris, and CCTV has already bought the broadcasting rights for the Paris Masters.

However, many sports departments have protested that some niche sports should be given more exposure.

Therefore, the broadcast of the Paris Masters had to be postponed until the quarterfinals.

Zhang Sheng, on the other hand, was recently a spectator at the Paris Masters.

Especially since Jiang Hong's match yesterday was so exciting, it was surprising that it couldn't be broadcast live.

This made Zhang Sheng very upset.

However, he has also been keeping an eye on the domestic internet during this time.

It has been noted that many people have gone to the CCTV website's message board to leave petitions.

He didn't sleep all night, and called back home as soon as it was light and he was at work.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhang Sheng finally got to the point.

"Boss, have you seen the calls online for us to broadcast the Paris Masters live?"

The leader instantly understood what the other party meant.

"Of course I know, but we also need to broadcast other projects. We're not just doing it for ratings, but also for public welfare purposes."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sheng decisively chose to change his approach.

He coughed once, and then spoke to the leader.

“I know, boss, but the Paris Masters is currently being broadcast in the early morning, so most of the matches don’t get that much attention then. We might as well broadcast the Paris Masters earlier.”

“In that case, other projects might file complaints!” The leader hesitated.

Zhang Sheng smirked, sighed, and said, "Boss, you should know that the current tennis atmosphere in our country is all because of Jiang Hong. It wasn't cheap for us to buy the broadcasting rights for this Paris Masters."

"If something unexpected happens in the next round of matches, and there are no domestic players in the quarterfinals, the viewership will drop significantly, and we won't be able to recoup the broadcasting fees."

"At that time, there will probably be even more complaints!"

"The broadcasting rights, which cost a fortune, are only broadcast when there are Chinese players on the show, and only when there aren't any Chinese players on the show!"

Upon hearing this, the leader's gaze sharpened; such a possibility was indeed possible.

Zhang Sheng added, "Besides, many fans are waiting to watch the Paris Masters tonight, so broadcasting it is for the benefit of the audience!"

The leader made up his mind and clapped his hands.

"Okay, I agree to broadcast the Paris Masters tonight!"

Immediately, the TV station also started advertising.

The news had barely surfaced when it quickly went viral on tennis forums and online communities.

"Great! CCTV will be broadcasting the Paris Masters tonight!"

"Looks like leaving a comment was useful!"

"Finally, we can watch Jiang Shen's match."

Tonight, Jiang Hong's match was not scheduled at the Beixi Stadium, but at an affiliated stadium that can probably accommodate seven or eight thousand spectators.

French television stations broadcast the key matches live, including yesterday's game between Jiang Hong and Davydenko.

Jiang Hong's playing style has attracted many fans.

That's why I bought a ticket specifically to watch the game live today.

The stands were packed.

……

Viewers sitting in front of their televisions finally heard a familiar voice.

The competition is about to begin, and the live broadcast staff are setting up the equipment.

Tonight's match will still be broadcast live with commentary by Zhang Sheng and Zhan Jun.

everything's ready!
"CCTV, CCTV!"

"This is the scene of the Paris Masters Round of 16 match between Jiang Hong and Baghdatis."

"I am Zhang Sheng, the commentator for tonight."

"I'm commentator Zhan Jun!"

"The Paris Masters is the last ATP Masters tournament of the year, and today we will see a showdown between the power of China and the Mediterranean whirlwind!"

"Alright, the players from both sides are about to enter the field!"

(End of this chapter)