Chapter 210: Sanada VS Tezuka

Mifune said: "The benefits Takahashi has brought are not just these."

"Recently, many internationally renowned brands have contacted me, wanting to proactively sponsor Takahashi, and even sponsor our Japan Team."

Tanegashima spoke up: "Is Takahashi already this hot right now?"

Mifune said: "People are always naturally drawn to the strong; at Takahashi's age, Borg did not have such powerful strength as Takahashi."

"Those sponsors know that in a few more years, once Takahashi successfully turns professional, he will surely make the entire world tennis scene sit up and take notice."

"So thanks to Takahashi, the attention and treatment our entire team has received this year have risen with the tide."

……

"The upcoming event is the U17 World Cup semi-final, with the Germany Team playing against Japan."

"The first match is Singles No. 3, with Tezuka Kunimitsu of the Germany Team playing against Sanada Genichiro of Japan."

A clear and resonant broadcast voice rang out.

……

"This semi-final uses a format where singles and doubles alternate, just like in our National Tournament."

"I didn't expect Tezuka to be the first one to appear; it seems he is highly valued in D Country!"

Atobe said in a deep voice.

"Why is it Sanada who is playing?"

"I thought it would be Fuji or Atobe; they are more familiar with Tezuka's abilities."

Kite pushed up his glasses and said.

"Today's playing order was decided by the coaches in a meeting; even I don't know exactly what position I'm in."

Byodoin said.

Hearing Byodoin's words, Kurobe coughed somewhat uncomfortably.

This time, 7 people are participating in the match; according to the Tennis Association's regulations, it will be composed of 4 high school students and 3 junior high students.

The high school students' playing order was indeed determined after their intense discussion, but the 3 junior high students playing today were all decided by Takahashi.

Coach Mifune was afraid of the hassle, and secondly, he truly did not understand the strength of the junior high students.

So he threw this matter to Takahashi.

Although Takahashi's strength is comparable to a professional player, he is only 12 years old and can only be counted among the junior high students.

In this way, only two spots remained for the junior high students.

When Kurobe went to find Takahashi to talk about this, he saw with his own eyes Takahashi pick up a pen and, without even thinking, write down the name of Sanada Genichiro; as for the other one, he decided it by drawing lots.

With Takahashi's casual attitude, Kurobe felt the problem was huge and the situation was serious.

He had thought Mifune General Coach would carefully reconsider the junior high student list, but he did not expect Mifune to not even look at it and directly hand the list to the tournament organizing committee.

Thinking of that scene at the time, Kurobe still feels very speechless even now.

……

On the court.

Sanada and Tezuka both walked slowly to the net.

Sanada stared intently at Tezuka and said seriously: "Tezuka, I have been looking forward to this match for a long time."

"This time, I will definitely not let you off."

An equally sharp gaze shot out from Tezuka's eyes.

This match is of vital importance to him.

If he can make a huge contribution to the Germany Team's victory in the World Cup, then Borg will consider officially recommending him to the D Country tennis scene, allowing him to turn professional in the future.

So for Tezuka, this is also a match that cannot be lost.

Thinking of this, Tezuka shifted his gaze slightly toward the Japan Team's rest area.

Ever since hearing Sanada's name, there has always been a trace of unease in his heart.

Because, Tezuka still clearly remembers that during the National Tournament, Takahashi once treated that match against him as a coaching match, all for the sake of letting Sanada defeat him.

With Takahashi's current strength, Tezuka certainly believes in his coaching ability.

It is just that he, Tezuka, is also constantly growing; under the guidance of the current world's strongest tennis player, Borg, his strength has also made rapid progress.

And Sanada Genichiro was his defeated opponent back in elementary school.

Takahashi, who coaches Sanada, is even less comparable to Borg, who coaches him, so in this match, his own chances of winning are still greater.

Tezuka comforted himself in his heart.

……

"Best of three sets! First is the service game for Sanada of the Japan Team."

Accompanied by the referee's voice, Sanada tossed the ball, raised his arm, and swung his racket; the movements were smooth and flowing, completed in one go.

"Bang!"

"Swift as the Wind!"

Sanada shouted loudly.

……

Oishi exclaimed: "What a fast swing speed!"

Yanagi Renji explained: "This is Sanada's special move, the Wind from Wind Forest Fire Mountain, a super high-speed shot."

Yukimura crossed his arms and said: "Sanada's Wind seems even faster than before, and the angle of the attack is also very tricky."

……

"Bang!"

Facing the tennis ball that was rapidly rebounding toward him, Tezuka ran quickly to the left, turned, and returned the ball with a backhand.

Just as Tezuka felt relieved that he had successfully returned this ball, he looked up and discovered that Sanada had already arrived at the net.

He leaped high and slammed a fierce smash at the incoming ball.

"Bang!"

"Aggressive as Fire!"

Tezuka's eyelids twitched; this ball was once again aimed at his backhand.

He immediately ran forward a few steps and barely managed to return the tennis ball with a backhand.

"Bang!"

"As Gentle as the Forest!"

A Short Ball with no spin landed in front of the net, while Tezuka was still at the baseline.

"15-0!"

"Japan Team scores!"

……

Tezuka looked at Sanada on the opposite side in surprise.

From the Serve onwards, Sanada had been attacking his backhand, and the angles of those attacks truly made him feel uncomfortable, leaving him unable to perform at his proper level.

If not for the high-intensity training he had experienced in D Country, he likely would not have been able to successfully return such tricky balls.

He had managed with great difficulty to add a bit of spin to the tennis ball while returning it, but immediately after, Sanada used the Forest slice, turning the tennis ball directly into a no-spin ball that landed in front of the net to score directly.

Being able to execute such attacks in succession made Tezuka feel that his shot patterns and hitting habits had been completely studied through by the opponent.

However, he had only played one match against Takahashi.

Could Takahashi have obtained so much information from just one match?

……

On the other side.

Japan Team rest area.

"I didn't expect Sanada to be this formidable!"

Fuji was somewhat shocked; he hadn't expected Tezuka to lose a point immediately upon exchanging shots with Sanada.

And Fuji still remembered the sense of oppression Tezuka had brought him during the exhibition match back then.

Yanagi Renji said: "Sanada isn't necessarily that formidable; it's just that Tezuka happens to be targeted."

"Ever since hearing that Tezuka would play for the D Country Team, Inui Sadaharu handed over all the data he had collected on Tezuka over the past 3 years to the Coach."

Fuji was slightly stunned, then immediately realized and said: "This is indeed something Inui would do."

"He has always had an obsession with beating Tezuka and obtaining all of his data."

Atobe said: "Fine! As expected, the person who understands Tezuka best is his own teammate."

"But this is also good; Tezuka is now standing on the opposite side of our Japan Team, and having his detailed data does us nothing but good!"