Chapter 60: Back-To-The-Basket Reverse Shot

Park Jun-hyuk's fifth serve once again utilized a flat forehand, aiming for a powerful strike.

However, his first serve hit the net again.

He didn't dare to take risks on his second serve; after all, losing this point would mean getting broken.

This serve appeared much more conservative, with a speed of only around 160 kilometers per hour.

After running into position, Jiang Hong chose to hit a cross-court shot, targeting Park Jun-hyuk's forehand side.

This time, Park anticipated the ball's trajectory correctly. Making a slight adjustment, he swung his racquet and returned the shot.

Jiang Hong slightly altered his racquet angle, sending the tennis ball directly toward the center line, though with considerable depth.

Park Jun-hyuk was gradually settling into the rhythm and was no pushover!

Moving quickly to the ball's landing spot, he swung his arm toward Jiang Hong's backhand baseline corner.

The placement was well-controlled, landing just inside the baseline!

"Screech!"

The sound of rubber soles scraping against the court!

After a high-speed movement, Jiang Hong slid into the hitting position and executed a one-handed backhand with his left hand!

The tennis ball carved a bizarre arc as it flew over the net.

Faced with Jiang Hong's explosive speed and sudden pace changes, Park Jun-hyuk was caught somewhat off guard.

He could only watch helplessly as the ball bounced twice after crossing the net and rolled slowly to a halt!

Park Jun-hyuk had been broken!

"1-0!" the umpire announced the score.

"Damn, Jiang's one-handed backhand is so cool!"

"Did you guys not see Jiang's teleportation speed? I honestly thought he wouldn't make it!"

"I hereby announce that I have been a loyal fan of little Jiang for twenty years!"

True, the practical utility of a one-handed backhand isn't exceptionally high!

After all, it is difficult to control the trajectory, and it demands high reaction speeds for receiving the ball!

Its greatest advantage—is simply looking cool!

After all, being skilled is temporary, but looking cool is forever.

It was now Jiang Hong's service game!

He took two balls from the ball kid and tucked one into his pocket.

He bounced the ball a few times against the court, then observed his target landing spot for the first serve!

Jiang Hong never dawdled on his serves and immediately initiated the motion!

Tossing the ball, driving off the ground, and swinging through!

He didn't apply any spin to this serve; it was a plain, straightforward flat serve.

It had only one defining characteristic: "Fast"!

The speed must have reached 190 or even close to 200 kilometers per hour.

In the past, Jiang Hong could never have achieved such service speeds.

However, through his recent period of rigorous training, Jiang Hong had successfully patched up his weakness in power!

Even when facing formidable servers with cannon-like deliveries, he no longer felt as constrained as before.

Park Jun-hyuk's expression shifted drastically upon seeing Jiang Hong's serve!

What is the meaning of this?

You're returning my aggressive serve with one of your own right back.

As an athlete, his competitive spirit flared up instantly!

Anticipating the landing point, Park Jun-hyuk sprinted directly to the hitting zone and swung his racquet!

The moment the strings collided with the ball, his expression changed.

So heavy!

Though he had prepared in advance, he still failed to properly envelop and control the serve!

The tennis ball sailed directly past the baseline and crashed into the back fencing.

Ace!

The score advanced to 15:0.

Jiang Hong prepared for his second serve, which wasn't as blazing fast as the first!

The speed was likely around 180 kilometers per hour, but the placement was viciously tricky.

Like a falling meteor, it rocketed straight toward the inside corner of the opponent's service box!

Park Jun-hyuk scrambled hurriedly to the ball's landing spot, and though straining, he managed to send the ball back.

It crossed the net and hurtled toward Jiang Hong's forehand!

Jiang Hong advanced two steps and unleashed a heavy, vicious swing.

The tennis ball shot straight toward the opponent's baseline.

Though not quite a line-shredder, it landed with immense depth!

Park Jun-hyuk was pushed back and forced to retreat, extending his arm to drag the ball back over.

The two players fell into an extended rally, until Jiang Hong suddenly injected more power!

This return shot was deep and heavy. Although Park Jun-hyuk chased the ball desperately, he ultimately failed to reach it, and after bouncing, the ball sailed out beyond the baseline.

Once the point concluded, Park Jun-hyuk planted his hands on his thighs and breathed heavily.

The preceding rally had drained a significant amount of his stamina!

He walked over to the side to grab a towel, wiped his face, and pondered ways to break the deadlock!

Jiang Hong was simply polishing his baseline rally skills; at the very least, it was much more useful than hitting against a wall.

If Park Jun-hyuk had known Jiang Hong's internal evaluation of him, he surely would have vomited blood from sheer anger.

"Bang!"

The serve slammed squarely onto the center line, and then the ball's peculiar spin defied perception, carving a strange arc as it veered sharply to the right!

Ace!

The speed of this ball must have reached 190 kilometers per hour.

He successfully held serve, claiming the second game.

In this game, Park Jun-hyuk failed to score a single point, getting blanked entirely.

By the fifth game, Park Jun-hyuk managed to claw his way back through his service game, bringing the score to 40-40!

With arduous effort, he claimed his first service game!

The score stood at 4-1!

Afterwards, Jiang Hong gave Park Jun-hyuk zero opportunities. When serving for the set, Jiang Hong suddenly flicked his wrist and executed a drop shot.

While Park Jun-hyuk scrambled frantically to retrieve it, Jiang Hong rushed the net for a volley, driving the ball into the left baseline outer corner!

A passing shot!

Facing this shot, Park Jun-hyuk was powerless!

He could only stand frozen in place, watching the ball land for a winner!

Both players retreated to their respective rest areas to take a breather.

"Little Jiang is too incredible! He's making a player ranked 400+ look completely helpless. What ranking do you guys think Jiang's current level is equivalent to?"

"Indeed, I think little Jiang might have reached the level of a 300+ player!"

"I think even higher than that!"

"Ah? Don't we currently have zero players in the men's national circuit breaking into the top 200?"

Fans in the chatroom discussed excitedly just how far Jiang Hong could go.

After all, watching a netizen step by step ascend into the professional ranks and become the country's top-tier athlete—that sense of achievement could hardly be captured in mere words!

In reality, the first mainland Chinese men's tennis player to crack the ATP top 200 wouldn't emerge until Zhang Zhenren in 2019.

However, the present Zhang Zhenren was still just a kid, having recently joined the Shanghai team and serving as Zhang Long's junior disciple!

Entering the second set, Jiang Hong maintained his calm, unhurried rhythm of play!

Perhaps feeling deeply humiliated, Park Jun-hyuk noticeably elevated his performance in the second set.

Both his service returns and court coverage were significantly superior to the first set.

When championship point arrived, Park Jun-hyuk had no intention of going down without a fight!

Faced with Jiang Hong's heavily spun serves, he felt extremely suffocated, unable to mount any offense and forced into awkward defensive returns.

Unable to control the depth of his return, Park Jun-hyuk produced a rather strange shot that happened to land right beside the sideline.

Under normal circumstances, Park Jun-hyuk would never dare to risk playing such a tight, marginal shot of his own accord!

Jiang Hong's speed instantly exploded to its absolute maximum. Although the tennis ball had already bounced outside the sideline and was practically on the verge of being ruled dead, Jiang Hong reached the spot the exact moment he realized he had no time to pivot and face the ball.

"Do or die!"

Jiang Hong thrust his arm outward, striking the ball directly from the front without turning his body.

A blind, behind-the-body one-handed backhand!

The tennis ball traced a gorgeous arc, striking squarely into the dead corner on Park Jun-hyuk's opposite side.

Park Jun-hyuk could only turn his head to watch the ball land, completely incapable of making any rescue attempt.

"6-1, 6-2! The match is over! The winner is Jiang Hong!"

The umpire's voice rang out, proclaiming the match's final result.