Huh? The court feels smaller, somehow.
The first time I played here, it felt huge.
Yeah. I'm calmer than I thought I'd be.
And my body feels lighter than I expected.
I feel driven, but not stressed.
Last year, I ended up losing by hitting out of bounds.
But that was the ref's mistake. It was actually in.
My mental state then was good enough that I thought I had a chance to win.
I need to bring that state back to reality through my notes,
so I can start the match with that same mentality.
The Kanto Junior Tennis Tournament semifinal round will now begin.
I'm the challenger, so I just have to hit him with everything I've learned!
Three-set match. Nabae to serve.
A wide slice!
His shots really are sharp!
There it is already!
But it's my return game.
1/81!
Love-15.
That wasn't like his usual shots.
Looks like Maruo-kun is in good shape today.
No, calm down.
Next point!
Love-30.
So it's true!
Since before we started... No, since yesterday, something's been different.
The court feeling small, getting weirdly excited...
My mind is calm, but my body is responding. This feeling...
I'm getting close to the zone!
He's oddly aggressive, and not hesitating at all.
I have somewhat of a grasp of Maruo-kun's characteristics,
so I was going to attack him first, but...
I can't help it now.
Things like this happen.
He's slowing the pace down with a spin?!
The spin's deep.
Love-40.
He pivoted and scored just like that.
Against Nabae, no less. Is he possessed or something?!
I was right!
I'm focusing only on what's right in front of me,
and nothing else is going through my mind at all.
At a time like this, I should look only at the opponent and the court,
and leave my shots up to my instincts and judgment!
Game: Maruo. 1-0.
Yes!
I was able to break Nabae-kun's serve right off the bat!
What?! He's off to an unbelievable start.
Maruo's definitely winning the battle,
but no lucky streak lasts this long.
I figured he'd start out in good condition, but I didn't think it'd be this good.
He's close to the optimal condition he was in against Ide.
Aggressive is Ideal
I'll let my instincts direct my serves, too.
His flat serve went in!
Moving up immediately, huh?
Love-15.
Even if it's luck, winning a point is big.
That was just bad luck.
I won't read into it.
Maruo-kun is in his best possible condition.
It won't be easy to break.
15-all.
But it's not as though I can't even score a point.
Out. 15-30.
He may have luck, but his aggressiveness will lead to mistakes, too.
And even players like Maruo-kun who have no set attack pattern
have tendencies on a given day that come to light over time.
He's returning most of my deep spin shots in the same way.
And so far, he mostly hits down the line when he goes for the point.
The first volley relies heavily on the basics, so it goes deep toward open areas.
Game: Maruo. 2-0.
Yes, I held!
When a player displays abilities beyond his strength,
his true nature shows.
Right now, I can make this valuable data mine.
Use 1/100 here!
Love-15.
Nevertheless, he's impressive.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
I'll trust my instincts, and hit a strong flat shot with my 1/81 control!
I can't afford to let him widen the gap any further.
All right!
Game: Maruo. 3-0.
Whoa! Maruo broke serve again?!
Don't tell me... Is he going to...
No, no. There's no way Nabae would go down like this.
My body's automatically going for the best shots, even when I'm not thinking about it.
There's no mistake. I'm playing the best I ever have.
It's proof that all my training to change the pace is ingrained in me now.
Time.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
Game: Maruo. 4-0.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
Game: Nabae. 4-1.
Maruo leads.
No matter how well I'm playing,
it's impossible to break Nabae-kun's serve every time.
So this is fine.
4-1...
And I'm in the lead after breaking serve twice.
If I can win this set, I can afford to take more risks.
For now, just going in boldly for the score is proving effective.
Time.
The higher-risk shots that I couldn't pull off last year are working now.
That's why I'm winning points.
This excellent condition is beyond what I expected, but it's no coincidence.
It's the result of training for this very moment.
No...
It's not like first serves make it in 100% of the time.
There are bound to be mistakes when playing offensively.
Love-15.
What?!
Whoa. That's the most Nabae-like attack we've seen in a while.
That's true. He was getting crushed in his return game.
Huh? Something is definitely different from before.
Why?
Don't tell me...
Was it because I thought about the future for a second?
Being in the zone means focusing only on the present.
It's obvious that it's not good to think about the past and future.
I have to think only of right now.
Fault.
This isn't bad.
I just have to clear my mind more.
Focus only on this shot right now.
Fault. Double fault.
Love-30.
Th-That wasn't clearing my mind. I wasn't thinking at all!
A flat on the second serve is kind of reckless.
Is Maruo okay?
He's moved up a step!
He saw my spin serve coming!
Love-40.
Looks like his gears are falling out of alignment.
How could I not adapt to those movements?
It's proof that my field of vision narrows during my serve.
Don't panic.
I should still be near the ideal condition.
It doesn't have to be ideal all the time.
But at the crucial moments, at least...
Concentrate!
Everyone relies on past successes when they start feeling anxious.
Now is when that data from earlier can work for me.
Down the line!
He read me!
Game: Nabae. 4-2.
Maruo leads.
There it is! Nabae already broke back!
Bro...
It's getting interesting now.
Nabae, we've been waiting for this!
Damn.
I get it.
Even if I was able to clear my mind at first,
it's difficult not to care about the score when it's 4-1.
That being said, if I focus too much on clearing my mind,
important things also slip from my mind, and I lose balance.
In other words, it's not easy to keep yourself in the ideal condition
at all times during a match.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
I was able to get this far thanks to luck.
I can't rely on being in the zone anymore.
It's better to shift all the way into a realistic style of play.
Center Front Wide
Consider the data I've collected so far,
and predict the most likely direction and shot.
I'll give over 60% of my attention to the wide serve.
Center?!
15-love.
He really is incredible.
I'm impressed I broke his serve twice.
Wait, this isn't the time for that!
I have to make sure he doesn't surprise me again!
Watch carefully.
Fault.
That was close.
But even Nabae-kun will go to a second serve 30% of the time.
I'll make that my opportunity by changing the pace.
All right...
A slow spin and 1/64 control!
Now slice toward that same direction.
It's easy to disrupt the opponent's timing by hitting different shots
to the same area at the same speed.
I'll return this slightly shallow shot in the same direction,
but this time with a fast flat shot!
15-all.
Yes!
I was able to score by changing the pace!
Even if I'm not in the ideal condition during my return game, I can still score!
Three different shots along the same direction...
This style feels more like the usual Maruo-kun.
First serve's in!
First, I'll put a weak spin on a deep forehand shot down the line!
Next, I'll pivot immediately and hit a fast flat shot!
30-15.
Here comes Nabae's counterattack!
Huh?! I thought Maruo's shot was good, but it was hit back even harder!
Wh-What was that?
It's not like my shot was good enough to turn the match around,
but it wasn't weak enough to be shot down in one strike.
40-15.
Again!
Game: Nabae. 4-3.
Maruo leads.
Way to hold!
Whoa, this is intense!
Here we go! That's how you play the best tennis in Japan!
After that, I sort of understand now.
Nabae-kun is targeting my flat shots.
A flat is a strong shot, so if you return it well,
it'll come back as an even stronger shot.
And my method of changing the pace
Flat Since this is a straight shot, it has strength and speed. It's very aggressive, but it's prone to miss. Spin This shot drops and bounces. It's not as powerful as a flat shot, but it's stable and easy to control the ball speed.
Slice This shot is slow and doesn't bounce away. It's the most stable shot, but difficult to drop the speed.
revolves around how I utilize my flat shot.
He's going straight for my crucial move.
Even though it's more risky,
the reason he's targeting it is most likely
to destroy my method of changing the pace at its root.
He targeted the heart of my tennis, fully knowing what my style was.
This is how Nabae-kun plays tennis.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
Don't get timid.
I'm still one break ahead.
There are two ways to prevent Nabae-kun from hitting that powerful flat shot return.
1.) Don't hit flat shots. 2.) If I do, be sure it'll win the point.
The first is to not hit flat shots.
The second is, if I do hit one, to be sure it'll win the point.
But if I don't go for any flat shots,
I won't be able to avoid playing passively.
Considering that,
it may be better to continue using my flat shot, the crux of my change-of-pace.
Basically, I just have to go for
a winner with my flat shot when I have the chance!
Time.
First of all, I have to get the upper hand with my first serve.
Then, I'll use control more precise than 1/81 and go for the flat shot.
This situation is similar to the end of the match I lost to Nabae-kun last year.
But I'm different from who I was back then.
I have to hold serve here!
Before I aim for a winner with my stroke,
it's best if I can win on my serve!
Go!
Out. 15-love.
That was a good serve on a good course, and yet it was still close.
He's gotten much faster since last year.
And he's probably not even playing with all he's got.
His serves are probably what improved most.
Flat shots are the crux of Bro's change-of-pace... and he's targeting them, isn't he?
Yeah, that's right.
If Nabae's targeting that...
That isn't only the most efficient strategy.
It's also an opportunity to show that, based on ability alone, Nabae is better.
15-all.
That was weak. I can't hit a winner with a shot like that.
Even if I can't hit a winner, I have to do something to break his stance.
But before that, I have to score on my first serve.
If it gets returned, react swiftly with something other than a flat shot!
And when I get my chance,
go for the score with a flat!
It came back!
But now that I have another chance...
Again!
Out. 30-15.
That was close again.
He was able to control that shot even though he wasn't positioned for it.
It's a very Nabae-kun-like shot, as if the racket were part of his body.
With his flexible wrists and racket handling, he can pretty much hit any shot
as long as he can make contact with the ball.
He's striking with flat shots instead of shying away.
His choice of strategy is more optimistic than it used to be.
Maybe something changed his mentality.
Game: Maruo. 5-3.
Maruo leads.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
There was a lot of advancing and retreating in that eighth game.
Bro was somehow able to hold serve, since he was able to get his first serves in.
Yeah, it's true that he's gone all-out during the first set,
but at the same time, he's also been reminded of Nabae's abilities.
When I think I have the advantage, I actually don't.
And when I think I scored, it gets hit back.
It's good that my first serves are going in, but if my success rate drops at all,
he can break my serve at any time.
Considering that,
I want to somehow break his serve on my return game and take this set!
It's normal to be scored on during a return game.
I have to utilize my lead to fight back!
Center!
15-love.
Damn. It was wide.
The success rate of his first serves is rising.
Then where will he aim next?
Wide. I was right!
The moment I have the upper hand, strike!
30-love.
No way.
I was able to read his moves perfectly, and I managed to break his stance,
but he still got me!
40-love.
Game: Nabae. 5-4.
Maruo leads.
He held serve, and I couldn't even win one point.
In my return game,
he can score on me before I have a chance to hit a flat shot.
I didn't feel like I could break his serve at all.
In that case, I have to hold serve and win the first set.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
But I'm sure Nabae-kun will give it his all here, too.
And it's not going to be as easy to hold as it has been.
Then... what should I do?
While you're at it,
you might as well do something bold that you'd never do under pressure.
L-Like what?
Like aiming for the lines instead of dividing up the court into squares.
The lines? Wouldn't that be an unnecessary risk?
You can't know until you try!
And aim for aces on all your serves!
Are you serious?
We talked about a lot of options,
but if he's catching up like this...
This is the time to try it, while I'm still in the lead.
It's worth trying!
Time.
My opponent is Japan's best player. I'll try whatever it takes.
If you're going to be bold, it means nothing if you're careless.
You've got to use your own experiences, and what makes you you,
to make the game go in your favor.
All right...
2) Go in for the score 1) If possible, take a shot
3) Go in for the score 2) If possible, take a shot 1) Observe
I'll use the two-phase method
I learned in Florida to go for the win from the baseline when possible.
I'll win points by increasing the risk of those shots
to the utmost limit by changing the pace.
I'll increase my ball speed overall,
but when I hit a slower ball, I'll control it with pinpoint accuracy as best I can.
This is close to the ultimate tennis that I strive for.
Since I'm not scoring aces during my service games now,
I have to change something or I won't be able to hold serve.
I expected to make more mistakes in this game.
But for me to take this set,
I have to attack boldly!
I got it to the corner, but it came right back to me!
Now I'll just barely keep it straight and...
add spin!
Love-15.
It's not just my flat shots.
He's trying to score on my spin shots, too?!
Next Time
After all this, he's going for a preemptive attack I have no data on.
But this isn't how Maruo-kun truly plays.
It's more reckless than it is unpredictable.
He continues to reign as Japan's best player.
That's exactly why I want to beat him.
So for now, I'm going to do everything I can!
Next time on Baby Steps,
Recklessness and Surprise
"Recklessness and Surprise."
End