Now that I've been reborn, I have to play tennis!

Chapter 64 A Small Breakthrough, Hell Dungeon

After the awards ceremony, Meng Hao opened Weibo and took a look.

Apart from a few tennis bloggers who reported the news immediately, there was no reaction online, and it barely made a ripple.

Only a few fans left comments like "Congratulations" and "Keep it up," and that was it.

However, the tennis forum was quite lively, with netizens creating several pages of comments to celebrate the first men's tennis challenger title.

Today's Tieba is still quite lively, with frequent holy wars and forum bombings, unlike later versions that have become defunct.

Meng Hao strolled through the streets of Guangzhou with his hands in his pockets, still a nobody, unnoticed by anyone.

However, the central bank helped!
That evening, CCTV even took an extra minute to report on Meng Hao's challenger championship in its sports news segment.

Although this was not the 2 minutes that Chen Yu had promised.

The first 30 seconds show footage of the competition, while the next 30 seconds are Meng Hao's acceptance speech.

In fact, a mere challenge tournament champion wouldn't cause much of a stir, but Meng Hao's post-match remarks surprisingly went viral!
"One Challenger title means nothing, I belong on the tour!"

"The championship trophy? Then let's dedicate it to our high school!"

"I have already given my previous Hope Tour championship trophies to my alma mater."

These slightly arrogant words were immediately forwarded to Weibo by tennis bloggers and quickly spread across the internet.

"So unique! I love it!"

"This young man is arrogant enough! He actually looks down on the challenger champion!"

"Actually, what he said makes sense! In the eyes of most fans, the Challenger Series title doesn't really count as a championship!"

"In the world of professional tennis, everyone below the tour level is an ant!"

"But what about the other men's tennis players? How are they supposed to feel if you say that?"

In the video, Meng Hao holds a small trophy in one hand with a calm expression, even with a hint of disdain.

The quick-thinking tennis bloggers immediately took screenshots and saved them.

In the future, if Meng Hao succeeds, this photo can serve as proof of his lofty aspirations; if Meng Hao fades into obscurity, it can also serve as a warning to future generations not to be unrealistic and overconfident, for even a small competition is still a championship.

No matter what, we win!
……

After returning to the hotel, Meng Hao packed his bags and luggage, as he was to return home the next day.

His phone would ring frequently every few days.

He is well aware that he is not making much of a splash outside the industry, but it would be difficult for him not to attract attention within it.

Zhejiang Province, Yunnan Province, Guangdong Province, and then Shanghai and Beijing.

Leaders from five different sports bureaus called, hoping that Meng Hao could represent their province or city in the National Games.

The National Games are also jokingly referred to by netizens as the Cosmic Games.

Although the general public has little interest in the National Games, and its level of attention is even lower than that of the Chinese Super League and CBA, it is of paramount importance to local sports bureaus in various provinces and cities.

But this is understandable.

After all, the greater importance of the National Games will motivate sports bureaus in various provinces and cities to wholeheartedly cultivate sports talent for the country.

Some of the offers were indeed quite good and very tempting!
However, Meng Hao resolutely declined all the invitations, after all, he now had the confidence to do so, and he had to thank President Ma for that.

Meng Hao is not short of money in the short term, even if he assembles a small team.

Then came the phone call from family members, and the parents were extremely excited.

In fact, Meng Hao had already shared the good news with his parents during the day, but he still emphasized that it was just a small championship!

At the time, the parents' reaction was also normal.

But everything changed after CCTV's sports news started airing.

"Son, you still call this a minor championship! This is the first time in our country's history!" The father's voice was full of excitement. "This is definitely a major championship! No way, we absolutely have to treat everyone this time, invite all our relatives!" CCTV, look what you've done!

"Dad, isn't this unnecessary? And what's Mom's opinion?" Meng Hao was quite helpless and had no choice but to bring up his mother.

After all, my mother is quite shrewd and doesn't want to waste money.

"This is also your mother's idea. We should still celebrate!" the father said earnestly. After all, this was a day that would make their whole family proud.

Even Meng Hao's mother said something that made him both laugh and cry: "CCTV said this is the first historic title in men's tennis, so is its significance the same as the title that Li Na won?"

How can these be the same? They're worlds apart!
However, the professional tennis system is so complex that many young people, let alone their parents' age, don't really understand it.

"Not even close! That other person's championship is equivalent to an Olympic champion in other events!" That was the only explanation Meng Hao could offer.

"It's alright! Anyway, this is a championship that brings honor to our ancestors!" Meng Hao's parents also agreed, and decided that this meal was a must.

However, his parents were really tight-lipped. When Meng Hao won those three Hope Tournament championships, they actually listened to their son and only referred to them as minor competitions when talking to relatives.

But now, it's clear that the truth can no longer be hidden.

"Then let's talk about it when I get back!" Meng Hao could only offer this as a temporary response before hanging up the phone.

He showed no joy at winning the championship, but instead opened the ATP's Chinese website with a solemn expression.

Although the latest official rankings won't be updated until next Monday, you can still check your current ranking.

With 118 points, the world ranking is... 399th, just inside the top 400!

Winning the first challenge match caused Meng Hao's ranking to skyrocket, rising by more than 150 places.

Even so, if Meng Hao wants to compete in the Jinan station, he still has to start from the qualifying rounds.

Because the draw for all tour and challenger tournaments is determined by the world rankings six weeks before the start of the tournament, Meng Hao's ranking at the time meant he could only play in the qualifying rounds.

"How about we get a refund?"

He couldn't help but think, "Playing ball outdoors in Jinan in mid-to-late July is going to kill me with the heat!"

But Meng Hao was still undecided.

Because throughout August, there were no challenge tournaments in China, only one Hope Tour event after another.

In fact, other players with similar rankings as Meng Hao still like to participate in the Hope Tournament to rack up points, since they can basically be the first or second seed. This is a kind of opportunistic behavior.

Meng Hao had higher aspirations and naturally looked down on those hopeful competitions.

"The Chinese season starts in September!"

"Given my current ranking, the fact that I have no background with the sports bureau and am not signed with any sports company, the possibility of getting a wildcard can be ruled out."

"Moreover, the registration deadline for the Chinese season is in August, by which time my world ranking won't even be good enough for the qualifying rounds!"

Meng Hao carefully observed the race schedule, his eyes flashing, and he also remembered something.

"A 100K challenge will be held in Shanghai the week after the US Open."

"Many players who were eliminated in the US Open qualifiers or even the early rounds of the main draw will sign up to participate, as a way to prepare for the China season!"

"But this challenge match actually has another special meaning for the Chinese players!"

The Shanghai 100K Challenge also has a slogan: "Direct to the Shanghai Masters".

The domestic player who achieves the best result in this challenge will receive a wildcard entry to the main draw of the Shanghai Masters.

However, Chinese fans jokingly say that this is a "hellish dungeon" for domestic players.

Because the lineup is too strong, being eliminated in the first round is the norm, and sometimes they can't even get past the qualifiers.

……

(End of this chapter)