Out!
First set winner: Maruo.
Score: 6-2.
I can't believe it!
Maruo won a set!
This is where...
This is where the real match starts!
Awakening to Simplicity
Second set!
His play style is different now.
I have to find a way to deal
with nine different serves without relying on my data.
That toss looks like it's going to be a spin.
Will he go with his best shot?
Or will he switch?
15-love.
It spun forward!
His delivery hasn't changed,
but I'm a step behind because I keep focusing on all the possibilities.
Isn't there anything
that can help me narrow down his options?
A center spin!
Does that mean he's gonna move up?!
30-love.
It's no use.
Even if I'm aware of it, I'm still a step behind on his serve,
so my return is weaker.
40-love.
He went with his classic wide slice!
Keep calm...
The side returning the serve is always at a disadvantage.
I'm just gonna have to gamble a bit.
If I keep an eye out for his strongest wide flat serve,
I might be able to handle it, even if I'm wrong.
Wide slice!
He's going to use his backhand!
Will it go down the line?
Or crosscourt?!
His backhand finally made it in!
Game: Alex. 1-0.
But Alex isn't used to playing like this.
Even if he's started to make shots...
I shouldn't change my plan to go after his backhand!
Huh?
Alex and Eichiro?
Hey, Atsushi, what's the score?
Maruo won the first set and they're in their second set, 3-all.
Why is Alex losing?!
He missed a lot of backhands.
But he started making his backhands in the second set,
and he's been in the lead since then.
Maruo is struggling to keep his lead,
but Alex is keeping the pressure on him.
Game: Alex. 4-3.
Alex will definitely go for the break.
But I know the characteristics of his backhand now!
Alex's Backhand Cross= Fast prep Line= Slow prep
Setup is ready here
Setup isn't ready here yet
His prep is fast when he's aiming to hit crosscourt.
When his prep is slow, he's aiming down the line.
If I can just hold serve by using this data,
I can change the tide!
Time!
Alex?
He's smiling.
I'll target all my serves at his backhand.
I'll hit this to his backhand, too!
Keep targeting his backhand with a delivery strong enough to win the point.
That way, Alex's stance will move more and more toward his backhand side.
Once he's more than a meter back from the center line,
hit hard to his forehand!
Even if he's better with his forehand,
he won't have enough strength to hit it hard while he's running.
At his backhand again!
Alex's backhand delivery is losing its stability and strength.
If I can't hit a sure shot from back here, then...
I will from at the net!
If his prep is fast, then it's crosscourt!
If it's slow, it's down the line!
Bring it!
Which is it?
What?!
Love-15.
He pivoted into his forehand.
Here... With that timing...
That's it!
An offensive backhand maximizes my forehand's effectiveness.
But as long as it's his backhand, I can see where the ball will go.
I'll just have to wait for a chance while targeting his backhand.
If his prep is slow, it's down the line!
Even if I can read it, it's tough.
If my backhand gets better, I'll surpass the player I was,
who relied only on his forehand!
Love-30.
Amazing!
Good shot, Alex!
If the ball is even a little weak, he goes for it with a strong forehand.
So he's still gonna go with his forehand in the end.
How stubborn.
Then I'll make his backhand difficult to hit, too!
Be more relentless!
Out! Love-40.
This is bad. It's break point.
No, don't lose heart now.
Keep an eye out for his forehand and don't let your shots get weaker!
At his backhand!
Huh?!
He got me.
He ran around to his forehand during the return...
Game: Alex. 5-3.
That's a pro for you.
Even if he figured out the serves were targeting his backhand,
that forehand was more impressive than usual.
Yeah. He has a chance.
It's been a while since I've felt this way.
He broke my serve.
He'll take the set if I don't break his serve now.
What do I do?
Just solidifying my defense isn't enough.
But how do I go after him?
Maruo, are you ready?
What?! Uh, yeah!
I can't think of anything!
Then...
Keep the strategy simple.
I'll make it hard for him to use his forehand.
That's all.
Forget the Alex who's in my data.
Watch the Alex who's in front of me!
Keep my eyes on him, and the rest is up to chance!
It's on the line.
Then...
Crosscourt!
It's in.
But it'll come back.
And I'll decide where this ball goes
when I hit it!
It's deep...
He's moving up!
That's good.
Huh?!
Love-15.
Did his delivery get a little better?
Why?
Why did I just move up?
This is tough.
But I'm returning far more than I did in the last game.
Hey, did their rally just get a lot better?
Yeah, it did.
What is this?
It's like my body is reacting before I have a chance to think about it.
Love-30.
A great hit went in the ideal path,
even though I decided to aim there at the last second.
That's the best I've ever been able to actualize the control I've been practicing.
If this isn't a coincidence,
does it mean my body automatically moved to make the best decision?
That short hit crosscourt was clearly the best option to take.
Does that mean my body...
My instincts are making more accurate judgments than I realized?
It might be better to rely on my body than on my head right now.
In any case, let's try that one more time.
Maruo's movements have changed.
I'm done using my head.
Once we start, I free my mind!
15-30.
Wrong, wrong!
How does being totally mindless help?!
I need to look more
at my opponent and the entirety of the court,
and be aware of the Alex, right in front of me.
Trust that my data, my instincts, will choose the right thing to do...
And focus on the ball!
30-all.
Yes!
His serve and volley were both perfect!
He got me.
But it's not a bad thing.
After we started this set,
he finally started returning my serves decently.
I knew it. Something's changed within this game.
I might be able to do it!
The score is 5-3, and I'm in the lead.
But if I stumble now, I'm in trouble.
I can sense it.
This is the same sensation as having your livelihood depend on each match.
Something being a pro has taught me.
It's something I have
that Maruo doesn't!
40-30.
Count on a pro to be able to win points at times like this.
I'm reacting fine.
I just need to return that serve.
Thinking stops now.
Just be aware of Alex and the entirety of the court,
and rely on my instincts in the moment!
Believe in myself! I've gotten this far!
He returned that solid serve perfectly!
What an angle!
My backhand is already my weapon!
Down the line!
Second set winner: Alex.
Score: 6-3.
Yes!
I knew it, but I still couldn't hit it...
Amazing!
I'm playing an amazing match against an amazing player!
I used to think Maruo was the insecure type who isn't capable of having big dreams.
But that's not right.
He's the type to have countless smaller dreams
that he can achieve perfectly, one by one.
They may be small individually,
but as they keep coming true, they quickly become one huge dream.
I'll prioritize this one point
in front of me instead of thinking about the future.
This is way a pro thinks.
If I've come this far in just a year and a half by doing that,
then as a professional, I can't lose.
I'm doing it.
I'm holding my own against a pro!
I could very well win!
Time.
Final set.
Even if I can read his backhand,
I can't return the ball.
It's dangerous to keep aiming there so blatantly.
So what do I do?
I have to stop thinking.
The rest is up to what he does.
Believe in myself...
and trust my instincts!
I'll challenge you with my clearly superior strength here!
He's pushing forward!
Hard hit!
But it dropped in time!
Where do I aim?
Up?
Right?
Left?
A return is risky, but I'm ready for it!
What will you do?
Look at your opponent to determine where to aim...
Yes!
15-love.
I can't read him.
If I can just play like that, he'll never be able to read me.
Even I don't know where I'll aim until the last moment.
There's not a lot of power to it, but it follows the course.
Is he doing it on purpose?
He probably is.
Boldly rushing forward is a pattern I can use.
All right, I'm starting to understand it.
Reason
Instinct
My instincts have been listening to my reasoning all along.
So I can move the right way during play...
I'm counting on you, instincts!
Game: Maruo. 3-2.
Well, see you later, Maruo-kun.
Game: Alex. 4-all.
Maruo with his control,
and Alex with his intense serve and stroke.
They're both counters to one another.
Neither of them can break.
Game: Alex. 6-all.
We're finally at a tiebreaker.
I didn't realize how much better Eichiro has gotten...
He isn't losing strength at all.
If anything, he's getting stronger!
No, don't hesitate now.
It starts here.
I have to get seven points first!
1-0: Maruo.
1-all.
2-1: Alex.
3-2: Maruo.
Both of them are holding serve.
5-all.
6-5: Alex.
Here it is!
Match point for Alex!
But if Maruo can hold his next two serves,
he'll get to match point instead.
The situation is a complete tie.
By now, both of them must be pretty spent physically.
How well can Maruo stay calm and use his control?
Will Alex push relentlessly with power?
In the end, it's a battle of wills.
I've come this far. I won't lose!
I'll end it here.
Bring it!
A slow ball to his forehand?!
His timing was off!
I can do it!
What incredible control!
6-all.
All right!
He staved off match point!
It's still gonna go on?
Alex intended to stop a fast serve from Maruo with his forehand.
But then Maruo used a slow slice that made Alex miss his timing.
While Alex was caught up in the match, Maruo found his blind spot.
Even in this situation, Maruo is making rational decisions.
This is the best tennis I've ever played.
If I don't win now, then when?!
Final set.
6-all in the tiebreaker.
From this point on, whoever gets two points ahead wins.
Even a pro would get nervous in this situation.
Is Maruo okay?
The serve's fast this time!
Alex misread the timing.
7-6: Maruo.
Now it's match point for Maruo.
Alex...
If I get this next one, I'll win!
Huh?
Ow!
No... Don't tell me...
A leg cramp?!
I come this far and then get a leg cramp?!
All this time, I thought Alex and I were evenly matched.
Was my body actually pushing too hard?
I-It hurts...
But if I tell the coach, he'll stop the match.
Stopping at match point? You've got to be kidding me!
What do I do?
If I move, it'll be obvious.
Which means I'll have to win the point the moment it starts.
That means a return ace.
It hurts like crazy,
but I'll deal with it for a second, stand as firm as I can,
and make it in one shot!
Probably down the center!
Here it comes! Please, I beg of you...
Go in!
It hit the frame!
It's coming back!
Huh?
There's something wrong with how Maruo's moving!
There's practically no chance of winning.
But being at the net raises my chances, even if only by one percent!
You hurt your leg and gambled, huh?
Well, then!
Out?
That means...
I win—
Idiot!
Uh, I'm okay.
It's just a cramp.
That's not for you to say!
As the coach, that's for me to decide.
Y-Yes, sir.
If you have goals, don't put your body through this again.
Goals...
The All-Japan Junior.
I'm sorry.
Atsushi, take Maruo to the medical office.
Alex...
I never thought I'd lose to this amateur.
I-I'm sorry.
That last part was really a fluke.
But I didn't want to lose or stop the match partway.
Maruo, in this match, you taught me something.
How important it is to look back at the past.
Huh?
To change the person I am right now,
it's necessary to face the person I used to be.
I was able to move a step forward today.
But a match like this is meant to be played in front of a big audience.
Yeah.
Game, set. Winner: Maruo.
I won.
Against a pro like Alex.
Florida Exchange Program Last Day
Uh, everyone, thank you for the last two weeks.
Especially Atsushi-san. Thanks for all your help.
Don't mention it.
Give me a call the next time you come around, okay?
I'm really glad we met.
It was fun, and I had a great time.
Right, Alex?
Maybe if I'd hit it from the side instead of a lob, I would've made it in.
His loss yesterday is just now hitting him.
No, I wouldn't have made that decision if I'd based it on Maruo's condition.
Where's the friendly, relaxed Alex from yesterday?
But that aside...
That was an incredible match that I'll never forget.
I'm hoping to get my revenge in a future match against you.
Alex...
You helped me out a lot, too.
Thanks, Marcia.
I never thought you'd beat my brother.
Huh?
But since you won, you'd better go pro.
I will, too.
Y-You're rooting for me, right?
Th-Thanks, Marcia.
Mike, do you know where Ike-kun is?
I was able to play a lot of matches because of him.
I'd like to thank him.
He's been away at a match since yesterday.
Speaking of, he left a message for you.
He said, "If you want to thank someone, thank Natsu."
Why Nat-chan?
Who knows?
Okay, I just push this, right?
I'd like to get a picture with everyone together.
Ready? Here goes.
Bye, everyone!
Let's meet again!
Keep working hard!
Take care of yourself.
See you!
See you.
It's been a productive two weeks.
I was able to play a match with Ike-kun,
and I even won in the end against Alex,
who destroyed me in the beginning.
On top of gaining two weeks' worth of data,
my reason and instincts started to mesh surprisingly well.
It'll be pretty difficult to get into that condition again.
It was a miracle of a win, but...
I still won.
I have to connect this win to my next.
What is this?
1 win, 1 loss. We'll settle it next time! Atsushi
When did they...
"Next time, come visit with your girlfriend. Pedro."
"Let's meet at Wimbledon. Robbie."
"One win, one loss. We'll settle it next time."
That's from Atsushi-san.
"I won't lose anymore." That's Christopher.
"Let's meet when I visit Japan. Krishna."
"Good luck becoming a pro! Marcia."
And Alex's is...
"Baby steps"?
A baby's steps?
Does that mean toddling?
That will turn into a giant stride?
It guess it means small steps will eventually turn into one large step forward.
I personally want to start with giant strides...
Oh, yeah. Marcia said something like that to me on the first day, too...
Tear ducts collapsing
But it'll be okay.
As long as we continue tennis.
So everyone, do your best.
I will, too.
If we do our best, we'll meet again.
Next Time
Um, please play a match against me, Takuma-san!
In order for me to go pro,
I can't lose any more matches from now on.
I have to show results.
So I beg of you, just one match!
I see.
If that's the case, I'll play against you.
Well, I just happen to be in the mood to crush you to pulp.
Next time on Baby Steps,
Takuma's Decision
"Takuma's Decision."
End