Who would still play tennis after being reborn?

Chapter 144 Breaking the Divine Concealment at the Last Moment, But It Was Too Late

When the match entered the final stage of the third set, with the score settling at 5-0, Janowicz's tactical coach seemed to have given up hope, covering his head, looking down at the ground in a daze.

Janowicz has many fans. Competitive sports are based on nationality, and for many fans, no matter how much they like a star, they will choose to support domestic athletes in crucial moments.

Just like the Polish fans sitting in the stands right now, when they saw Janowicz at a disadvantage, their cheers not only didn't disappear, but grew louder and louder, wave after wave of cheers.

On the contrary, every time Gu Cheng scored a point, boos came from the stands. Yanowitz's fans were openly supporting Yanowitz in various ways.

"This is probably the mentality of fans; they will always stand on the side of their favorite players."

This scene reminded Gu Cheng of Higa Chuu from the Prince of Tennis National Tournament.

Compared to the relatively unknown supporters in Higa, Yanowitz's fans were extremely polite, only occasionally letting out a few boos.

If it were Higa Chu, he probably would have started cursing by now, let alone booing.

However, such scenes might be a bit excessive in tennis, but they are commonplace in football.

In football matches, the battles between the fans on both sides are truly terrifying. Not to mention booing, mass brawls are not uncommon.

Of course, Gu Cheng still didn't understand.

Whether in the world of Prince of Tennis, or in the past or now, he has never been a fan. Even when he occasionally watches some matches, he simply enjoys the process of the match.

Especially in football matches, who wins or loses is not important to him; what matters is whether the process of the game is exciting and enjoyable to watch.

However, the vast majority of athletes standing on the professional stage are worthy of respect.

As a professional player, he believes that nothing else matters but playing each game well and delivering a great match for his fans. That's all.

The sixth game was Janowicz's serve. Although more than an hour had passed, the audience showed no sign of leaving; on the contrary, the place was bustling with noise.

Especially in the final round, the atmosphere became so tense it was almost suffocating.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the next moment to arrive.

Janowicz stood behind the baseline, gently tapping his racket, his eyes fixed intently on Gu Cheng opposite him. Gu Cheng also looked up at Janowicz, who was adjusting his breathing, his eyes revealing a hint of unwillingness and stubbornness.

"This point is crucial," an excited commentator exclaimed. "If Gu Cheng wins this game, he will achieve a shutout victory over Janowicz! That's an incredible feat for anyone!"

"A shutout is something that has never happened before in the history of the Australian Open."

"Gu Cheng will create a miracle today, or rather, a new world record!!"

Janowicz didn't know what the commentator was saying, but when he went to get a drink after the game, the tactical coach said something to him.

No distractions.

But seeing that glaring 5-0 score, Janowicz realized that he couldn't possibly stay focused, and it was a miracle he didn't immediately surrender in frustration.

Normal mind.

There's no such thing as a completely normal mindset.

Janowitz shook his head, clearing his mind of all his worries, then tossed the tennis ball into the air and delivered a powerful flat serve that sliced ​​through the air, heading straight for Gu Cheng's backhand sideline.

In the final stages, Janowicz's serve became much cleaner, and Gu Cheng casually volleyed the ball back to the baseline.

Janowitz reacted quickly, responding with a beautiful slice to try and disrupt Gu Cheng's rhythm.

However, Gu Cheng was no rookie. He smiled slightly, moved forward lightly, took a step forward, and decisively shot before the ball bounced off the ground, delivering a very aggressive volley.

The ball was extremely fast and at a tricky angle. Although Janowicz tried his best to save the ball, he was ultimately just a step too late.

"15-0!" the referee announced.

In the following rounds, Janowicz showed amazing resilience and began to try various tactical combinations, including frequent net play, backhand drop shots, and wide-angle moves to move his opponent around.

Every swing of his racket was filled with a desperate determination, as if he wanted to fight with all his might in this final game, even if it meant winning just one point, to defend his dignity.

Faced with Janowicz's fierce offensive, Gu Cheng remained calm and composed, responding to every change with composure. He even proactively changed his strategy at crucial moments, using his superior judgment and physical coordination to instantly transform a defensive situation into an offensive one.

In particular, the move "Divine Concealment" has once again become Gu Cheng's sharpest weapon. Whenever he prepares to use this move, the entire court falls into an eerie silence—as if time is stretched out and space is compressed, and everyone holds their breath and stares, waiting for the ball to fly through the air and land in a corner that the opponent cannot reach.

On the second serve of the match, facing Janowicz's powerful serve, Gu Cheng once again used his "divine invisibility". He stood in the center of the baseline, his eyes as calm as still water, and with a slight flick of his wrist, the ball spun and flew towards Janowicz's right open space in a way that almost defied the laws of physics.

However, this time, a look of surprise followed by relief appeared on Janowitz's face.

"I saw it... the trajectory of the tennis ball! So that's how it works, the principle of disappearing into thin air!" Janowicz was overjoyed. He quickly made a prediction and started moving in advance, trying to intercept the ball.

But the reality is cruel.

Although he had anticipated Gu Cheng's movements, Shenyin's trajectory was too unpredictable, and his landing point too precise. Janowicz managed to touch the ball, but only grazed it; the ball ultimately landed within bounds, bounced almost touching the net, and then plunged into the corner!
The whole place was in an uproar!
"30-0!"

"My God, Janowitz actually figured out the trajectory of the disappearing figure, but he still couldn't stop Gu Cheng from scoring!" the commentator exclaimed excitedly. "Is this the difference? Even if you guessed what he was going to do, you still couldn't truly stop him from succeeding!"

"Janowicz's shot was absolutely beautiful!"

"Unfortunately, it's too late. At this point, Gu Cheng already has countless match points in his hands. Even if the Shadow Form is broken, it poses no threat to Gu Cheng."

Janowitz slowly squatted down, supporting himself with his hands on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead.

He knew he had done his best.

Gu Cheng's disappearance was not just a matter of technique; it was also a psychological pressure for him, causing people to hesitate at the last moment, even if they were well prepared.

The match continued, and Gu Cheng remained calm and composed.

He wasn't arrogant because of his previous success, nor was he impatient because of Janowicz's tenacity. On the contrary, he maintained an awe-inspiring composure throughout the game.

"Gu Cheng is like a perfect machine," another commentator remarked. "His control of rhythm is superb. Whether it's serving, receiving, baseline rallies, or even drop shots at the net, he can do it all to the extreme."

"Even if his skills were to disappear, his power did not diminish as the game progressed. Even though Janowitz saw through the disappearance, it did not affect his judgment of the game."

This calmness is not indifference, but a powerful belief deeply rooted in his heart. Gu Cheng believes in his training, his judgment, and even more so, he believes he can overcome any challenge.

It is this belief that allows him to handle even top-level opponents with ease.

When the last ball landed, the score was 6-0.

At the end of the match, Gu Cheng completed a clean sheet against Janowicz!

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the audience, who rose to their feet to applaud and pay tribute to the young prodigy.

Online discussions about the match have caused a huge uproar.

On Weibo's trending topics list, topics such as "Gu Cheng shuts out Janowicz", "The God of Disappearance Reappears", "The God of Disappearance Has Emerged, Is the Realm of Selflessness Far Behind?", "Does the Realm of Selflessness Really Exist?", and "Is the Path of Asura God also on its way?" have all topped the list.

One netizen wrote: "After watching this match, I finally understand what it means for a king to return. Gu Cheng's performance can only be described as dominant. Janowicz is already a world-class player, but he beat him without any chance to fight back."

Another veteran fan commented, "Gu Cheng's technique has reached a whole new level. Especially in handling crucial balls, it's almost like he has precognitive abilities; he can always hit the most suitable shot."

Some media outlets even wrote articles analyzing: "Has Gu Cheng already mastered the legendary 'state of selflessness'? The focus, judgment, and stability he displayed in this match perfectly match the characteristics of this state."

In the world of Prince of Tennis, the state of selflessness has always been regarded as the supreme state.

It is not simply about improving skills, but a state of mind-body unity and transcendence.

Players at this level can completely ignore external distractions and focus on the trajectory and landing point of each ball, thereby making the most accurate judgments and counterattacks.

Even in the world of Prince of Tennis, many players never reach this level in their entire lives, but Gu Cheng... seems to be moving in that direction.

……

After the match, Gu Cheng did not leave the field immediately. Instead, he stood quietly in the center of the field, closed his eyes, and felt everything around him.

He knew that today's victory was just the beginning, and the real challenge was just starting.

Although Janowitz lost, he proved himself to be a respectable opponent. Gu Cheng knew that many more strong opponents like Janowitz awaited his challenge in the future.

"I will become stronger," Gu Cheng silently vowed in his heart.

Sunlight streamed onto the court, illuminating Gu Cheng's figure. He turned and left, his back resolute and confident. Behind him were the cheers and blessings of countless spectators; ahead lay the vast world of tennis.

This match is destined to become a classic, and Gu Cheng's name will be etched in the annals of tennis history.

As one netizen put it, "Today, we have witnessed the birth of a new king."

Gu Cheng's story continues.

And this is just the beginning.

"CHENG!!"

"CHENG!!"

"God Gu!!"

The moment Gu Cheng stepped off the field, the cheers from the stands ignited the entire stadium.

Gu Cheng paused for a moment, then raised his right hand to greet the fans in the stands, a smile on his face after winning the match.

"As expected of the Australian Open, the number of spectators is incomparable to that of ITF junior tournaments," Gu Cheng thought in surprise.

This was just a match against Janowicz. If he were to face Djokovic in the quarterfinals, there would likely be even more spectators and the match would have a much greater impact.

Sports News Flash: In the first round of the Australian Open, Gu Cheng brought a new local specialty to the land, achieving a 3-0 shutout victory over last year's Wimbledon semi-finalist Janowicz.

Local specialties?
You call disappearing from public view a local specialty?

When Gu Cheng returned to the locker room, Yu Haoyang and Cao Hui, who were in the audience, rushed over.

"I'm speechless. I was less than a minute late and I was surrounded by a bunch of reporters. They couldn't interview me, so they kept asking me how I mastered those skills. How the hell am I supposed to know?"

"Are they crazy? They won't let me leave unless I tell them."

Yu Haoyang has a sharp tongue. Although he verbally abused those reporters, he was actually very happy. He made quite a splash at this Australian Open by leveraging Gu Cheng's fame.

Yu Haoyang is a name that is somewhat well-known at the Australian Open.

Cao Hui chimed in, "Acheng ran too fast. He just said hello to the audience and then ran off. If they can't find him, they'll definitely look for you. I'm fast, otherwise I would have been stopped too."

Yu Haoyang rolled his eyes: "The main problem is that Acheng knows tennis. They asked me about it, and I have no idea! It's not a question that a human could answer, okay?"

"How could an ordinary person like me possibly understand demons?"

Cao Hui laughed: "That's true, but now I'm starting to believe what you said before."

"What did you say?" Yu Haoyang looked up, puzzled. "Did I say anything before?"

Cao Hui said, "You said A-Cheng must be hiding his strength! At first I didn't quite believe it, but now I really do. This guy might really be like you said, he's even mastered the Selfless Realm. After all, Divine Concealment is a skill that only appeared in the National Tournament. It doesn't seem strange that A-Cheng has mastered Divine Concealment and the Selfless Realm."

Yu Haoyang rolled his eyes: "That's true! When I asked him before, he didn't deny it. What do you think?"

"Let alone the state of selflessness, I even doubt whether he has already mastered the deeper level of selflessness."

Cao Hui: "???"

"What do you mean?"

"The literal meaning," Yu Haoyang said. "There's the ultimate in talent and the ultimate in refinement. Acheng has mastered at least one of these, and it's even possible that he has mastered both. But it's hard to say whether he can be flawless. This guy is hiding it very well, and it's impossible to judge."

The ultimate expression of brilliant talent?
The ultimate refinement through countless trials?
No way!
Cao Hui muttered to himself.

(End of this chapter)