The first to win three games wins.
If you take this game, you'll win the tournament.
Echizen! Go for it!
Go! Ryoma!
Echizen!
Finally, Ryoma Echizen debuts in an official singles match!
Don't just stare at him. Take some pictures.
I know that!
Shinji Ibu of Fudomine...
He's the unknown who cut down Kuki of that seeded school.
Seigaku's put a 7th grader into the crucial #2 singles slot.
I feel a little sorry for him.
Do they mean it to be a throwaway match?
One set match: Echizen of Seigaku to serve.
ECHIZEN
Hey! You there
What are you doing?
Oh, Uncle, I was cleaning and found something very interesting.
Oh! You were so cute, Uncle. You were in middle school, right?
Stop it!
Don't look at that!
No You don't have to be embarrassed.
Stop it! Just burn it, will you?
No way!
Oh She's pretty, isn't she? Was she your advisor?
Humph! She's an old hag now.
Of course, I used to call her hag back in those days, too.
Damn! Just thinking about her still gets me mad! That hag!
Son of Nanjiro
Come on. Knock their socks off!
Oh! He started right up with it!
A kick serve! A kick serve!
Oh What was that? It flew up into his face.
Hey! Judge Aren't you gonna make the call yet?
UhFfteen - Love!
Hey, our little guy is pretty good.
His surprise attack has everyone focusing on him.
It's another twist!
Thirty - Love.
Go, Echizen! Finish him off!
What's going on?
Isn't that 7th grader something?
Who was it who said Seigaku was throwing away their #2 singles?
No way
That 7th grader has mastered the serve with a reverse spin? No way!
There's another one!
Forty - Love.
I can't believe you're Tachibana's younger sister.
Well, you're Ms. Ryuzaki's granddaughter, aren't you?
You don't need to be so surprised.
How did you know?
Oh Don't misunderstand, I'm not a spy, or anything.
I'm just interested in my brother's opponents.
Oh. Don't you think Echizen's match has started already?
Oh, no! I've got to get back quickly!
I'm sure it's going to turn into an amazing match.
Huh?
Probably the main event of the district matches.
Oh
You'd better hurry.
Oh!
What a strong start! But Shinji, you can handle him!
That's crazy! He's going straight for the ball!
Huh!
H-He returned it
That's our Shinji!
No way
Ryoma
Game to Mr. Echizen.
I think I've got the rhythm wouldn't you say?
Shinji lost four straight points?!
It's only been about a minute since the game started.
That Seigaku 7th grader is strong!
Those eyes bring back such memories.
Nanjiro, see if you can return this.
Leave me alone, you hag.
I'm hungry. Just finish up, will you?
If you want to eat, try beating me!
Yeow! A back spin!
You sure are demented!
You were careless, weren't you?
You've still got a ways to go, Nanjiro.
What's with that slow back swing?
Shut up, you old hag!
Huh?
Oh, yeah, I hear you have a date with Kimiko from class 3 tomorrow.
Huh? H-How do you know about that?
So uncool! You're going on a date looking like a panda?
Huh?
Why you! You did it on purpose!
That's right.
Your forehand's not bad, but your backhand is terrible.
That's why I forced you to use it. That's all.
I'm going to keep working on your backhand.
If you don't want to look like a fool, you'd better fix that bad backhand.
Damn...
I forbid you to use your forehand. Return everything backhanded.
Got it?
Your date tomorrow should be so much fun!
Shut up, you old hag!
And how was your date with Kimiko?
Don't even ask.
She laughed out loud at me and that was the end of it.
Hey, you! Don't laugh!
The nerve!
Oh, Kimiko
Good start, Ryoma.
Right now, your opponent probably thinks he's having a bad dream.
But all dreams end sometime.
That moment will be important.
He's always so cool.
It wouldn't hurt him to get a little tense.
Leave it to Seigaku to have a 7th grader like him.
A nice environment and nice upperclassmen...
7th graders should suffer more.
How lucky! I envy them. But it makes me kind of sick.
Shinji's starting to mutter.
His true colors are coming out.
He's cocky for a 7th grader. He'd better not get too big-headed.
He makes me so sick I'll clobber him.
Go! Break his serve, Echizen!
That was a long bathroom break.
Miss Shiba, how's Ryoma doing?
He's started out quite well. He held his game.
His starting serve was a surprise, but Shinji
It's time to break back.
Huh?
That serve!
Fifteen - Love!
A twist serve?
No way
To think there was someone other than Ryoma who could do that
An eye for an eye!
He did it! Shinji's kick serve!
Kick? Wasn't that a twist?
I guess they're pretty much the same.
The twist serve is the old name.
But I'd say there's a slight difference in spin and power.
You're still hiding something, aren't you?
Something just doesn't feel right.
You're right.
He's a south paw?!
Well, why don't we both stop dancing around,
and get down to business... you and I?
South paw
Well, in order to get the ball to fly into your face,
I had to hit it with my right.
But you figured me out pretty quickly. Good for you!
You need to lose a match sometime. You're too arrogant.
He did it again! A kick serve! He did it again! A kick serve!
He returned it!
It's amazing!
Both of them seem to be pulling out all the stops.
Nobody can stop this match. It won't end until one of them collapses.
He's just like his father.
What's that? You mean you know Echizen's father?
Yes His father played as a pro.
What?! A pro?
What sort of a player was he? Was he strong on offense like Ryoma is?
An offensive player?
The word endure was not in his dictionary.
All he did was attack.
With that awful backhand, you'll never beat me!
Don't underestimate me!
His backhand is much stronger!
Totally flawless
He had natural instincts, and speed, and power.
And most of all, he had an extraordinary ability to absorb
He was that great?
Yes One in ten years No, he had an even rarer genius.
But Nanjiro Echizen was a greater monster than I thought he was.
Huh?
If you ask me, tennis is a fight!
A fight?
But you followed your teacher's instructions
and kept practicing your backhand, didn't you?
I didn't endure it!
I just wanted to pay her back for ruining my date.
Pay her back?
Yeah
I just had a good idea!
A left-handed forehand stroke?
Quit jabbering about forehands and backhands!
I've decided I'm going start playing two-sword style.
You mean Nanjiro Echizen figured out this two-sword style himself?
That's right.
Not only did he overcome his weak backhand.
Exceptional players overcome each wall in the same way.
That's the kind of boy Echizen's father was.
Looks like I lose. You're quite a guy.
That's enough for today. Good job.
H-Hey! I'm not through yet! Are you running away?
Huh? What's this? Not a love letter, I hope!
I don't want it.
It's a reward. Just accept it graciously.
A reward?
And what did that letter say?
I don't remember. But I have a feeling it was some silly thing.
Huh? Uh-oh, it's time to ring the bell.
An American youth
A 15-year-old tennis prodigy sweeps the U.S. Tour.
Will Wimbledon be next? The world watches in fascination
ECHIZEN
TOMORROW, THE WORLD!
I finally understand.
Huh? Understand what?
That it's Nanjiro Echizen who's standing on the court now.
His powerspeed reflexes
He far exceeds most players in all of these areas.
His ability to take advantage of his opponent's predictions is also flawless.
Ryoma's tennis is a carbon copy of Nanjiro Echizen's.
It's unusual for you to make such a strong assertion.
But when Echizen manages to climb over that wall,
what will be waiting for him?
I wonder
These are really the district matches?
Really? This is great
They're not pacing themselves at all here.
He's not someone who'd worry about something like that.
That's true But this will be valuable data for the future.
Oh! He got him where he didn't expect it.
Oh no! He won't make it!
Huh?
Fifteen - All.
He backhanded with his right. No way!
Two-Sword Style
HmmTwo-Sword Style, eh?
Well, yeah
You know, tennis isn't a circus act!
What's wrong with that?
Sorry, but I have no intention of losing before the nationals.
I won't lose at the nationals, either!
I'm Ibu of Fudomine junior high.
He makes me sick, that Seigaku 7th grader.
Letting loose and hitting kick serves, it makes me so sick.
But, oh well
If you think I'm just hitting balls, you're greatly mistaken.
Okay. I guess it's time to get down to business.
Next on The Prince of Tennis: Battle-scarred Ryoma.
Oh, man, it's not even my fault y'know