PDLP Chapter 662: Rookie Tournament Champion, Echizen Nanjiro's Vigilance
Chapter 662: Rookie Tournament Champion, Echizen Nanjiro's Vigilance
The spotlights from the Sydney Stadium dome cut the podium into diamond-shaped spots of light.
Beichuan's right hand holding the trophy trembled slightly, and the reflected cold light made it impossible to open his eyes.
The cheers came like a tide, drowning out all other sounds. At this moment, he was undoubtedly the focus of the audience.
In the southwest stand area where the Australian U-17 team is located, the metal seats glow coldly in the setting sun.
John Fitzgerald held onto the cold railing, his knuckles turning white from the exertion.
He stared intently at Beichuan on the podium, his Adam's apple rolled up and down twice, and he muttered to himself: "Hero King Beichuan..."
There was a complex emotion in his voice that was difficult to conceal.
The wind blew across his sweaty temples, drying the sweat on his forehead, but it couldn't blow away the flames dancing in his eyes.
This talented player who had defeated strong opponents in the Australian tennis youth group was now filled with a strong desire. He wanted to step onto the court immediately to compete with Beichuan and prove his strength.
However, reality soon came like a bucket of cold water.
Fitzgerald let go of the railing, stuffed his hands into his sweatpants pockets, and leaned back slightly against the chair.
He looked at the interlaced steel frame structure of the stadium roof, and the masters in the world tennis rankings kept emerging in his mind.
Beichuan's name was prominently listed alongside those legendary masters, while his own name was still struggling among the ranks of top professional players.
His rationality gradually returned, he gritted his teeth and sighed, the sound echoing in the empty stands.
"Let's go."
His voice was hoarse and low, as if he had used up all his strength, and when he turned around, his sneakers made a harsh sound against the ground.
The team members stood up and followed in tacit understanding, and the sound of metal seats returning to their original positions could be heard one after another.
Noah Gorgias paused on the steps, dragging a sports bag with a kangaroo logo on it.
He squinted his eyes and looked at Beichuan in the distance, which was surrounded by flowers and applause. The look behind the lenses was dull.
"Brother, it seems that our dream may take a long time to come true."
His voice was so soft that it seemed as if he was talking to himself.
Next to him, J.J. Gorgias tugged at his collar, which was still stained with grass debris from the game. He didn't respond, but just snorted heavily and quickened his pace down the stairs, his black sweatpants making a gust of wind.
In the Neon U-17 team's area, Onijujiro stood in the shadows, the corner of his uniform lifted by the draft.
He crossed his arms over his chest, staring at Kitagawa with a sharp gaze, then slowly glanced at the Byodoin Phoenix who was also staring at the podium.
There was silence between the two for a full half minute, and the air seemed to freeze.
Finally, Onijūjiro's Adam's apple moved, and when he turned around, the hem of his coat raised a sharp arc, and his footsteps were firm and indifferent.
Byodoin Phoenix looked at his gradually receding back, reached out and rubbed the ends of his hair, and his golden hair was messy in the wind.
He looked at Kitagawa again, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a meaningful smile, then he stretched out his long legs and walked in the direction where Onigijujiro left.
The players of Argentina's U-17 national team sat on the sidelines, some wiping the sweat from their foreheads with towels, while others fiddled with the strings of their tennis rackets.
They looked at the podium with envy and helplessness on their faces.
Conrad Brady of the Serbia U-17 team slumped in his chair with his head in his hands, mumbling something.
At this moment, players from all teams felt the insurmountable gap between themselves and Beichuan. The feeling of powerlessness was like a mountain, making it hard to breathe.
With the end of the award ceremony, the curtain of the Sydney Cup Professional Challenge slowly fell, the lights in the stadium went out one by one, and darkness gradually enveloped the entire venue.
However, the impact of this game has only just begun to ferment.
The news of Beichuan's victory spread across the world tennis community at an astonishing speed.
On tennis forums, posts on related topics have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain, and the number of clicks and replies continues to climb.
On the TV news, sports anchors reported this shocking news in an excited tone.
The masters of world tennis put down their work and began to collect information about Beichuan.
They realized that this young boy, who was only in the first grade of junior high school, would be a powerful opponent that could not be ignored in the future tennis world.
At this time, Nanjiro Echizen was standing under the sycamore tree outside the Sydney Stadium, and the setting sun made his shadow very long.
He put his hands in his pockets, looked towards the stadium, and listened to the spectators passing by excitedly discussing the game.
"Beichuan's last shot was absolutely amazing!"
"Yeah, I've never seen such a young yet such a great player!"
The few words that reached his ears made him frown.
Although he had not witnessed Beichuan's game in person, these discussions had made him keenly aware that Beichuan's strength was far more than what it seemed on the surface.
He bent down and picked up a withered sycamore leaf, rubbed it in his palm, and the crumbs fell on his sneakers.
Recalling Samuel Raymond's reminders and suggestions to Beichuan, he couldn't help but feel fortunate that he didn't have to step forward again.
Brand originally asked him to come because he wanted him to show Beichuan the way forward. Now that someone else was doing it for him, he was naturally happy to have some free time.
But more importantly, he was still afraid of the young man Beichuan.
Thinking of his previous dealings with Beichuan, he unconsciously ground his back teeth.
Echizen Nanjiro turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped.
He looked up at the sky, a gleam of light flashing in his eyes.
I thought that by training Ryuga Echizen and Ryoma Echizen to compete in the world of tennis, I could realize my long-cherished wish, but now it seems that I may have to come back from retirement.
He smiled bitterly. His retirement declaration of "It's lonely at the top" sounded so ironic now.
In fact, he has never really given up his love for tennis. His return to tennis now is not only to leave no regrets in his tennis career, but also to pave the way for Ryoma Echizen.
"Is Brand planning to incite Longma and the others to rebel while I'm away from the Free Country U-17 training camp?"
Echizen Nanjiro's eyes instantly became alert.
Brand's cunning smile appeared in his mind, and alarm bells rang in his heart.
He didn't dare to delay any longer and quickened his pace towards the parking lot.
Although Ryoma Echizen and the others have gradually adapted to life in the Free Country U-17 training camp, people's hearts are unpredictable. If Brand really uses some means to lure Ryoma Echizen and Kintaro Toyama into the Swiss U-17 team, the consequences will be unimaginable.