Thwack!
Yukimura lowered his racket, turned his body, and the tennis ball slid along the racket face, unexpectedly hitting a drop shot.
A drop shot is usually hit with a backhand. Because the landing spot is closer to the net, and the ball has low bounce, it forces the opponent to quickly move towards the mid-court or net. A good drop shot can also prevent the opponent's return from clearing the net.
Similarly, a drop shot can also be used as a return serve.
Tezuka's drop shot, in particular, is exceptional. His most iconic is the Zero-Shiki Drop (also known as Zero-Shiki Short Shot; the translation was incorrect).
Actually, "Zero-Shiki Short Shot" isn't precise. That kind of return isn't a short shot; it's a typical drop shot return. There's quite a difference between a short shot and a drop shot. A drop shot is a backspin shot, while a short shot is simply a gently hit ball towards the opponent's front court, typically with no spin.
"To hit a drop shot in this situation!"
Shishido's pupils contracted.
Yukimura's timing was absolutely perfect, an unexpected drop shot, and the ball had a significant downward trajectory. It barely cleared the net before dropping sharply.
Kamikawa swiftly moved forward. The moment the ball landed and bounced, he lifted it high.
With such a masterful drop shot, hitting it back flat was impossible. The only way to counter it was to lob it.
"Step... step, step..."
Yukimura stepped forward, reaching the net, and leaped. As the ball spun high in the air, he brought his racket down.
Whizz!
The bright yellow tennis ball zipped over the net, heading straight for Yukimura's right-side baseline.
Yukimura pushed off with his left foot, leaping, holding his racket with both hands, and swinging with his arms simultaneously.
Snap!
The Jackknife (jumping two-handed backhand) uses the left foot as a pivot for a jumping push-off, followed by a quick two-handed swing. This technique increases power during the hit and is a highly difficult backhand shot.
Both players were at the net, and the effect of the Jackknife was apparent.
"It's the Jackknife!"
Shishido's pupils narrowed. This was not a backhand shot that an ordinary tennis player could hit.
Consider that Yukimura was only in his sixth year of elementary school. With such a slender body, he could execute such an advanced technique.
"He returned it!"
Just as Shishido's attention wavered for a moment.
Kamikawa landed, took another step, leaped into the air, and set up in the same stance as Yukimura.
Snap!
The tennis ball hadn't even landed; it was returned right after crossing the center line.
"This..."
Yukimura's pupils slightly contracted. At such a short distance, to take such a stance, could his power also be superior to mine?
And to return a Jackknife with a Jackknife!
Boom!
With a resounding thud, the tennis ball scraped the ground, leaving a faint mark.
Yukimura landed and turned to stare at the mark on the ground.
In that instant.
The area outside the court was unusually quiet; even the umpire couldn't regain his composure for a moment.
"0-15!"
As the umpire's call rang out, everyone slowly came to their senses.
"In that state, he could still pull off a Jackknife stance."
"Yeah, and to return a Jackknife with a Jackknife, with both of them at the net... the difficulty is just too high."
"Am I really watching an elementary school match?!"
A pervasive sense of defeat washed over many tennis enthusiasts outside the court. They prided themselves on their own skill, but seeing boys of such a young age display such ability.
Fear, astonishment, and pressure overwhelmed them, leaving them unable to shake it off for a long time.
"It seems April's middle school entrance will cause quite a stir."
Inoue kept taking pictures with his camera, capturing the two players battling on the court.
Faintly, he saw a new golden age beginning.
He had originally thought that the JR Tournament three years ago, and the National Middle School Tournament, were the greatest events of the past decade. Now, it seemed the golden age was just beginning...
Thinking of this, Inoue couldn't help but recall the elementary schooler who was making a name for himself in Europe.
Keigo Atobe, the young master of the Atobe Group.
He had received news that in April of this year, the young master would be returning from Europe to enroll at Hyotei!
"Ryo~ Are they really elementary schoolers?"
Mukahi's voice trembled, his eyes never leaving the court for a second.
"I... I don't know."
Shishido's pride had already been shattered.
At this moment, he only wanted to see what level these two could reach.
"So... so amazing!"
At some point, Akutagawa, who had been sleeping nearby, was now standing beside Shishido and Mukahi, his voice trembling, his eyes filled with longing for such tennis techniques.
He had always been lazy and disliked training. Ultimately, Akutagawa had never truly faced a strong opponent. Even when he was completely overwhelmed by Sanada's absolute skill in the quarterfinals, it hadn't shaken Akutagawa's deep-seated desire to win.
Until he saw the two players battling on the court, their exhilarating tennis skills far exceeded his comprehension. They were truly strong.
In some ways, Akutagawa and Fuji were very similar: both were tennis players without a strong competitive drive. They rarely trained, spending most of their time playing around.
Such behavior was undoubtedly wasting their talent and potential!
"Point!"
As Shishido cried out.
At that moment, a crisp sound of the ball landing echoed on the court. Kamikawa turned and walked to the other half.
"15-15!"
"Still testing me, Prince of Tennis?"
Kamikawa couldn't help but chuckle, standing on the service line, turning his head to the other side of the court, where Yukimura was poised to serve.
A tennis match isn't just about speed, power, and technique. Sometimes, it's more about discerning the opponent's weaknesses and launching an attack to turn the tide into a winning situation.
However, the technique, speed, and power Yukimura was currently displaying were far below Kamikawa's expectations. This little fox was definitely hiding something; his "potential" hadn't been unleashed yet.
...
Thwack!
"30-15!"
...
Thwack!
"40-15, Yukimura!"
...
Thwack!
"Game, Yukimura, 2-1, change courts."
The umpire loudly called out.
In this round, Yukimura held his service game, and both players got some rest. During the changeover, Kamikawa suddenly stopped and quietly said:
"It's about time, isn't it, Prince of Tennis?"
Yukimura paused. The nickname "Prince of Tennis" hadn't even spread yet; it was a nickname given to him by many tennis enthusiasts in Kanagawa Prefecture because he had remained undefeated, not even losing a single point.
He hadn't expected Kamikawa to know this nickname.
Yukimura smiled faintly, "The match has just begun, hasn't it?"
With that, Yukimura began to walk towards his resting spot.
"This Prince of Tennis..."
Kamikawa murmured, his eyes flickering slightly, "I wonder if he has mastered that path..."
"Tsk~ The State of Self-Actualization, huh."
Yukimura and Sanada had both stepped into the State of Self-Actualization, but unlike Tezuka and Chihito, they hadn't delved deeply into it. Instead, they had found their own paths.
At this stage, Yukimura might not have truly broken free from the constraints of Self-Actualization.
But it made sense... He was only just turning 11 years old. He would only go to Rikkaidai in April, then be promoted to a regular in the tennis club as a first-year.
However, Kamikawa remained cautious. This little fox, even after playing so many matches against Sanada, still held back some of his skill. No one truly knew how strong he was.
Not even Yukimura's coach, Sakata, fully understood him.