Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
We've reached the final set.
To envision beating Nabae-kun as I am now...
I can think of two ways.
The first is to strengthen my stroke delivery.
The other is to add more attack patterns when changing the pace.
If I can pull both of those off...
I can see a vision of my victory! I think!
Time.
But...
If I focus on improving my strokes during this match,
making more mistakes will be unavoidable.
And I have to come up with new ways to change the pace at the same time.
Bro, hang in there.
Okay.
If changing nothing means I'll lose, I just have to do it!
I'll make the vision of my victory a reality here and now!
Final Set
Out. 15-love.
His aggressiveness is back.
He switches gears quickly.
I somehow hit it back!
Now, strengthen my delivery!
Out. 30-love.
Damn!
But that was a good shot.
Out.
Game: Nabae. 1-0.
I shouldn't consider this recklessness.
Something unexpected is bound to happen from this turn of events.
If that's the case, the best option is
to strike him down fast.
Game: Nabae. 2-0.
Nabae broke serve right off the bat!
He's in a pretty tough spot.
What do you think, Aoi-kun?
Game: Nabae. 3-0.
If my new strategy for changing the pace doesn't work, I'll be cornered.
If I strengthen my delivery too much, I make mistakes.
But this is all I can do right now, so I won't hesitate!
Just keep going!
Attack with a different pattern:
a shallow spin!
Love-15.
That just sets him up for his shot!
If I think on the spot like that, my field of vision narrows.
He's trying to do something?
Isn't there anything I can do?
I know!
I'll try Iwasa-kun's
lob volley!
Out. Love-30.
It didn't work.
But other players' strategies can give me some ideas.
Maruo-kun tries new things when he's cornered.
It's different from how I change my play style depending on my opponent.
He comes up with something totally new and evolves it.
It seems reckless at first,
but is this what rapid growth on the same level as Ike-kun looks like?
Yes!
Game: Maruo. 3-1.
Nabae leads.
It looks like changing his attitude brought him closer to being in the zone.
Game: Maruo. 4-2.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
Nabae leads.
It's turned into a battle to hold serve for both of them.
Bro is getting into the swing of things!
Love-15.
I feel like I'm close to being in the zone again.
No, no!
I blew it before because I thought about this too much!
I won't think about the zone anymore!
Next is...
Trying to volley again?
He stopped?!
Love-30.
Yes!
The strategy I lost to in that match with Takuma-san gave me a clue!
I just have to keep using the data I have
to change the pace however I can and deliver it with strong strokes.
I also feel like I'm close to the zone, but I won't think about that now!
This is his first chance at a break since the first set.
It isn't just difficult to read his pattern.
His occasional strong shots increase the variety in the tempo of his rallies.
He tries neither to suppress his emotions nor to release them,
but to control them.
It's an unstable method, but when it works, it's intimidating.
I'm leading by one break.
The real fight begins here!
15-30.
Unlucky break for Maruo!
That was a good serve. I couldn't do anything about that one.
30-all.
An ace!
That's Nabae for you. He's already caught up!
Couldn't do anything about that one, either.
I returned it! But it's weak, so he'll go for it!
I'll use that weak hit to my advantage and force it down the line with my hardest swing!
He usually hits down the line after this many good shots.
No...
30-40.
Yes!
Nice one!
If Nabae-kun's going to use previous data to predict my moves,
I'll come up with new patterns to change the pace.
And when Nabae-kun starts to hesitate, I'll hit a stronger stroke.
I'll watch him carefully so I can alter my moves at the last second.
This is it!
This is my vision of how I'll win!
But that's insanely difficult to pull off!
A deep, but strong, sharply-angled spin!
Move up early!
He read me!
The odds aren't good, but I'll follow the spin with a strong flat!
Game: Maruo. 4-3.
Nabae leads.
Yeah!
Maruo broke serve this time!
He's tough!
He's seriously strong!
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
He broke the serve that Nabae was trying to hold at any cost!
There was a lot of speculation about who would be able to
break Nabae-kun's chokehold,
but what an unexpected candidate.
It's only one game, but I was able to make the vision of my win a reality!
But I now know how difficult that is to do.
Strategically, I need both the creativity to come up with new patterns
and the execution to win points with it.
And emotionally, I need to be composed and driven at the same time.
Both strategically and emotionally,
I need to balance all the factors that don't coexist easily
in order to realize my vision of victory.
Now that it's close, I want to get rid of my emotions without giving up a point.
With the purest determination possible,
I have to calmly observe both myself and my opponent to accurately determine
the best way to go about this battle.
Time.
15-love.
All right!
Game: Maruo. 4-all.
Bro! You finally came back from a 3-0 deficit!
I can't believe an unseeded player is giving Nabae so much trouble.
Maruo-kun is overreaching himself.
15-love.
This style could definitely become a threat.
But if I want to win today, I just have to reduce risk factors.
It's too risky to go after both the flat and the spin shots.
Is it safest to go after just the spins?
15-all.
Out.
30-15.
I can't help making mistakes when visualizing a win as I play.
It may look like just a mistake to everyone else,
but it's most likely the best I can do.
I couldn't even make a dent last time,
but now I'm playing toe-to-toe against the All-Japan champion in the final set,
so there's no mistake.
I studied in Florida,
fortified my serve,
and trained my muscles.
I'm hitting this shot with nothing on my mind
except changing the pace!
30-all.
That's amazing!
I never imagined Maruo getting this far!
40-30.
Based solely on his spirit, I'd go with Maruo-kun, but...
He moved up!
Game: Nabae. 5-4.
Final set.
This is what I'm talking about!
Even if it's a difficult volley, he has the stability to score while keeping his cool.
His composure and technique in situations like this
are what allow him to remain the king.
I can't lose the next game.
Nabae, this is it!
You can do it, Maruo!
Game: Maruo. 5-all.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
They're both battling to hold serve.
But Maruo is aware of the risks he's taking.
That makes it easier for him to miss.
Out. Game: Nabae. 6-5.
Final set.
You have to hold this next one, Bro!
If he breaks serve, Nabae-kun wins, huh?
Realizing my vision of winning over and over isn't that easy.
And if this match gets drawn out,
I'm aware that I'll be the one suffering.
The final set will continue on until someone gets a two-game lead.
So I need to try to settle it quickly and decisively!
Hold serve here, and break serve next!
Then hold serve in the end, and win!
I'm prepared for a long match.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
But I'll end it here.
Time.
I need a minimum of three games to win.
No matter what strategy Nabae-kun uses,
I'll fight back with a vision of sending it back to win.
I need to go all-out,
but make sure this first serve goes in!
His serves are getting closer to the edge.
If he's going to be this risky,
I'll emphasize defense.
Out. Love-15.
This is good enough for now.
Nabae-kun is starting to play a little defensively.
But if I let that beat me, I can't call this my winning vision.
Be prepared to make some mistakes
to pull off the win I envisioned!
I'm ready for this!
I'll go after him early with a stronger stroke!
Now surprise him!
A sudden lob after he had the upper hand?
He isn't moving up.
Now he moves up?
What'll he do?
A drive volley?!
Yes!
15-all.
Miyagawa's drive volleys gave Bro a beating, after all.
His irregular combination of shots before that is what was impressive.
It's a lot like Natsu.
It was dangerous since it barely went over the net,
but I was able to calmly pull off what I set out to do!
I can do this! I can win!
If I can beat Nabae-kun, they'll surely accept my decision to go pro.
I can do what I love without making them worry!
If his shots are this good, there's only so much I can do by playing defensively.
Bro's really pushing him!
No, not exactly.
Keep my defense airtight,
and when I attack, go for it in one shot!
A drop shot?!
15-30.
Who can land a drop shot at a time like this?!
How is he so calm?
Not yet...
15-40.
Nabae's got match point.
All right!
Okay! Match point!
Not yet.
Nabae-kun's got match point.
If he wins the next point, I'll lose.
Then...
I'll make this pressure my weapon!
The vision of my win is right there!
Out.
Game, set, and match.
Winner: Nabae.
Score: 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.
It's finally over!
Nabae's advancing to the final!
No less from Nabae.
Nabae Yu Maruo Eiichiro
He pulls it off when it counts.
No, he was totally in danger this time.
I did everything I needed to.
And I pulled off everything I could.
I got all the way to the final set,
but a loss is a loss.
I still can't beat Nabae-kun.
Making the top four in Kanto isn't too shabby.
Coach Aoi.
More like this was the best I could do.
I have to become stronger.
Oh, but I'm glad I was able to test out a bunch of things thanks to you.
And now I have a better idea of what I have to do in the future.
That's good.
By the way, there's someone I wanted to introduce you to.
Hey, Maruo-kun, that was a great match.
I was moved.
Huh? Th-Thank you very much.
He's from the company that makes your racket.
The way you use both mind and body to the fullest to play tennis
is not only new, but it's also fascinating!
Oh...
Which is why we were hoping you would use our new racket.
What do you think?
What? Does that mean...
That's right.
We'd like you to help us come up with future racket designs as a tester.
I get to be a racket tester
just like Araya-kun and Nabae-kun?
This is a huge deal, isn't it?
Hello?
Oh, Kageyama.
Hey, Ei-chan.
How'd it go today?
What? You lost? I see...
But it's amazing that you got all the way to Kanto's top four!
Yeah. But it's not enough.
I'm going to stay and watch tomorrow's final.
Okay. Don't get down on yourself!
Yeah. Thanks.
The Kanto Junior final round will now begin.
The final ended up being Araya versus Nabae.
Yeah. I wonder how Araya-kun plans to beat Nabae-kun.
Probably with his speed and power.
Yeah!
15-love.
But Bro, the next time you play against Nabae, I think you'll win.
Well, I have to, or I won't be able to win the All-Japan Junior.
Last year, you lost bigtime against Nabae.
"Bigtime"? Come on...
But it's true that I lost 6-2, 6-1 in straight sets.
And this year, you fought him toe-to-toe all the way to the final set.
You've improved at a phenomenal speed.
That's right. When I first started, I couldn't even keep up during warm-ups.
Can't do it.
Coach! He passed out!
I lost my first match, but it was fun.
It made me like tennis even more.
As I won more, I got to play against stronger opponents.
I learned a lot from everyone.
It's been two and a half years since I started tennis...
Nabae Yu Araya Hiroshi
Game, set, and match. Winner: Takasaki.
I did it! I did it!
Score: 6-2, 6-2.
Nat-chan won.
She probably didn't lose a single set this year and won outright.
That's amazing.
Because Nat-chan was there for me...
I want to go pro.
I'm sure Ei-chan will play a big role.
That means this is our starting line.
Yeah.
Then...
What would you want me to say?
Seeing you work hard has always made me want to work hard, too.
Even when I've got it rough, I can tell myself to overcome it.
So when you win, I'm as happy as if I had won,
and that always gives me strength!
Game, set, and match. Winner: Araya.
All right!
Score: 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.
What?! Nabae-kun lost?
It didn't look like Nabae was playing the way he usually does.
Yeah, Araya-kun was good, but Nabae-kun made a lot of mistakes today.
You tried to play a power game against me.
What were you thinking?
I see.
Maybe Nabae-kun was thinking more about the future
while playing this final match today.
Alex made it into the top 500 in the world ranking.
Yes!
Game: Alex. 3-0.
Yeah, Alex! Good show!
Alex'll probably have a straight-set win.
He might just keep this up and win the whole thing.
Not yet...
I'm going to go even further.
You can do it, Alex.
Takuma-san won his third pro tournament match recently.
That'll bring your rank up even higher.
I'm just getting started.
I have to go even higher.
Ike-kun played against the world's number one player in a Grand Slam.
You completely defeated me today.
I'll make our next match even better.
Among all these incredible people,
I wonder how far I can go.
Ei-chan!
Bro!
Hurry up, Eiichiro!
Let's go!
Yeah!
I'll take it one step at a time.
I'll go even further,
by believing in myself.
End