The Prince of Tennis: From Data-Driven Tennis to the Pinnacle of His Career

"Bang!"

When it was his turn to serve, Matsuo swung his racket again, sending the tennis ball hurtling towards the opponent with a strong topspin.

"Bang!"

Jin Akutsu quickly moved to the ball's landing point and swung his racket to return the shot.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

After a few rounds, Matsuo seized the opportunity when Akutsu Jin made a mistake on his return shot and hit a cross-court shot at a wide angle.

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"30-15!"

……

"40-15!"

……

"40-30!"

……

"40-40!"

……

"AD-40!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 2-2!"

After successfully holding his serve, Matsuo wiped the sweat from his forehead, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.

He didn't expect Akutsu Jin to adapt to the spin so quickly. If he hadn't deliberately increased the spin on the last two balls, he probably would have lost the game.

He underestimated this first-year student a bit. He needs to be more serious from now on, otherwise he might really make a mistake.

"boom!"

When it was Jin Akutsu's turn to serve, he once again chose his signature jump serve.

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 3-2!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 3-3!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 4-3!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 4-4!"

The game became a stalemate, with neither side giving an inch and the score remaining very close.

"boom!"

It was Akutsu Jin's turn to serve again.

However, this time, Matsuo seemed to have anticipated the ball's landing point and sprinted towards it in advance.

However, it was still a little short; Matsuo didn't catch the ball completely, and it flew out, grazing the racket frame.

"15-0!"

……

"30-0!"

……

"40-0!"

……

"boom!"

……

"lie!"

The moment the racket touched the ball, Matsuo's expression changed drastically, and he quickly gripped the racket with his other hand.

Unfortunately, it was too late; the racket slipped from his hand and crashed heavily to the ground.

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 5-4!"

"Can you catch it now?"

Jin Akutsu's expression grew increasingly serious. He knew that he absolutely could not use the jump serve again, otherwise Matsuo would likely return it directly.

"Kid, you're really fit."

Matsuo picked up the racket and looked at Akutsu Jin with a complicated expression.

To be able to maintain such power while continuously using that kind of powerful serve shows that Akutsu Jin's strength and stamina far surpass those of junior high school students.

"Are you planning to admit defeat?"

Akutsu Jin raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with provocation.

What is Matsuo trying to do? He clearly received his serve, shouldn't he press his advantage now?

"Of course not, I'm just feeling a bit sentimental. I wish I had your physical abilities back then."

Matsuo sighed, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

Their class was far inferior to the previous class; the competitions back then were much more intense than they are now.

If he had been a little stronger back then, he might have been able to make it into the national competition with his seniors.

Unfortunately, this regret can never be undone.

"..."

Akutsu Jin fell silent. If he hadn't undergone special training, he wouldn't be the way he is now.

He subconsciously turned his head to glance at Kagura Ichijin outside the arena, his resolve growing stronger. No matter what, he was determined to win this match.

"Bang!"

Matsuo hit another topspin shot, gripping his racket tightly, and looked at Akutsu Jin with a serious expression.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"A great opportunity!"

After a dozen or so rounds, Matsuo decisively went to the net and delivered a precise volley.

Just when he thought this shot was sure to score, he saw a figure rush to the net at an astonishing speed.

"Bang!"

Jin Akutsu caught the ball in an extremely bizarre manner, then spun in mid-air and hit the ball into the corner on the other side.

"0-15!"

"You managed to get this?"

Matsuo looked completely stunned.

Akutsu Jin's movement speed was noticeably faster than before, indicating that he had been holding back earlier.

"What else?"

Jin Akutsu said coldly, then turned and walked back to the receiving area, assuming a defensive stance.

He has completely adapted to Matsuo's spin ball, and he is not afraid of even a long, drawn-out battle.

Although his serve was also broken, the situation is much better now than before.

When neither side's techniques are effective, the battle comes down to solid fundamentals, which is precisely what he excels at.

"snort!"

Matsuo snorted and returned to the service court, hitting another topspin shot. This time, he increased the spin, trying to limit Akutsu Jin.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

This ball went on for dozens of rounds, with both sides exchanging blows and refusing to give an inch.

In the end, it was Jin Akutsu who scored directly with a baseline through ball.

"0-30!"

"This is troublesome..."

Matsuo's face was terribly gloomy.

Even if he applied a lot of spin to the ball, Akutsu Jin was still able to return it.

Even though his counterattacks weren't always perfect, Akutsu Jin, with his superior physical abilities, managed to deflect his attacks and hold the situation in check.

"Hurry up and serve! What are you standing there for? You're going to lose this match, stop wasting time!"

Seeing Matsuo not serving for a long time, Akutsu Jin was very dissatisfied and roared angrily.

"Since you're in such a hurry, then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Matsuo took a deep breath, applied a stronger topspin to the ball, and then hit it with force.

"15-30!"

"what?"

Jin Akutsu missed his shot and paused for a moment.

The tennis ball bounced much faster than expected, catching him off guard for a moment.

"Bang!"

……

"30-30!"

……

"40-30!"

……

"Bang!"

After serving again, Matsuo saw that Akutsu Jin had already run to the ball's landing point and assumed a hitting posture.

"Now!"

The instant the ball bounced, Jin Akutsu decisively swung his racket.

"They actually caught it!"

Matsuo's expression changed drastically, and he quickly ran to the ball's landing point to hit it again.

He has to win this round, or the game will really be over.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

This point lasted for over a hundred rounds, and both sides were rapidly expending their stamina.

In the end, it was Jin Akutsu who, with his superior physical strength, ended this long tug-of-war with a smash.

"40-40!"

"roar!"

Jin Akutsu raised his racket with his right hand, pointing it directly at Matsuo, his eyes gleaming with determination to win.

After successfully breaking Matsuo's serve, he had the game firmly in his grasp, and he was destined to win.

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"Bang!"

……

"40—AD!"

……

"Game, Jin Akutsu, 6-4!"

……

"Match 3 is over, 6-4, Jin Akutsu wins!"

As soon as the referee gave the whistle, cheers from the Yamabuki fans resounded throughout the stadium.

Yamabuki is currently leading Rokkaku 2-1 in the overall score, and they are just one win away from qualifying for the national tournament.