God of Tennis

The atmosphere in the car of the group returning to the lodge was quite nasty. In the driver's seat, Shin Se-yeon was rarely seated, and in the back seat, Han Woo-jin and the former director were talking. No, actually, I was just talking to the director.

“Do you have an idea or not? ”

The Victory Ceremony shoots the horse with a stiff expression on its face. When he was truly angry, he didn't scream. I only rebuke with a calm voice.

Just like the last time Choi Hye Hyuk tried to stay in the contest hall, he was really angry.

Next to him was Han Woo-jin, who was just looking at the bottom of the car. I didn't have anything to say. He was a pro, so he couldn't beat himself up or get hurt.

“If this is the last tournament, I'm not talking about it. You were going to end your career in the second tournament? Huh?”

The tribute was furious. One of the two talents that he and he had chosen just for tennis almost fell for something like this.

Han Woo-jin is twenty-three. What's the big deal about a guy who's got a day to play, risking his life and standing on his coat? It was a newcomer who did what he had to do, a few years from retirement.

I could have understood if Han Woo-jin was a bloody child. At a young age, I could stand on a world stage called ATP Tour and make excuses for a little blood on my head. But I was not such a jerk that the director had seen. Newcomer

He was a connoisseur who handled his coat like a veteran.

The story of the two people who were doing that for a long time changed only after the director's attitude had deteriorated first. He asked with a worrying look hidden in his crooked face.

“... How's your arm? ”

Han Woo-jin just then lifted his head and saw the director. He waves his right arm slightly wrapped in bandages and replies.

“I'm fine. I said mild inflammation, and if I let it go, it'll sink in three days. ”

“Shit. You think you'd be better off with some pasta and bandages?" When I get to my place, I put some ice on the bucket, and it's poking me in the elbow. Okay? ”

“Yes, sir. ”

I realized that the director's tone was getting worse, and Han Woo-jin let go of his face. That tone also meant that I didn't intend to blame him any more. The tribute swallowed the horse with a shivering look on Han Woo-jin's face when he shouted harshly. Oh, come on. With this guy.

When I was growing, my face tangled.

After that, the awkward air fills the car. But it felt much softer than before.

* * *

Queek.

“Oh, you're here. Sit there.”

“Yes.”

After arriving at the accommodation and having finished eating, the former director called Han Woo-jin with Shin Se-yeon. As I heard earlier, I looked funny wrapped around my forearm with ice packs, but not a single one of them was sighing from it.

When Han Woo-jin sat on the chair opposite him, the former director took out a bunch of paper blocks and placed them on the table. Bunches of A4 sheets of paper stamped together were scattered.

“Woojin, should I read it for you? ”

Shin Se-yeon asked in a worrying tone. Perhaps the injury of the right arm could be accompanied by something this trivial.

However, Han Woo-jin shakes his head to the left and to the right as if it were nothing. It was okay to move my finger a little. Unless you're holding something tight or lifting something heavy.

“This...”

Hanwoojin's eyes narrowed while looking at the printout. These were all entries for the tennis competition. If there's one thing they have in common, is it the Challenger League? Five applications were out in front of me.

He realized the director's intentions and nodded.

“Is this next? ”

“Yes, I don't feel like rushing... but if you want to follow the route I planned, you'll have to be a little busy." ”

Han Woo-jin didn't know what the line was. But I knew a man called a tribute. If he had planned something seriously, he could have trusted it away from success and failure. He was the best person to think of as a person or as a director.

“Seoul, Kim Choon, Kyoto... they're all Asian regional competitions. Did you mean to squeeze it like this? ”

“Because it's more advantageous. ”

The former director answered his question without hesitation. There were a few conditions to consider when selecting the competition, but access and athlete level were of the utmost importance.

It takes too much time to get around if not close, and regional competitions where too high-level athletes participate are difficult to achieve good results, and they also consume too much stamina.

It was natural to schedule something that was in your favor as a professional athlete. Pride didn't feed him, and if he traveled far, he would talk a lot about business travel.

Of course, Han Woo-jin and Choi Yeon-Hyuk didn't have to worry about it, but it was hard to get a good eye when spending money like water. And the competitions that the director had printed out were the only ones that matched him best.

‘It's all within a half-day's walk, and it's Asian, so it's low-level. Besides, you've only chosen contests that will allow you to make it to Sydney. ’

Even though he was very upset about today, the former director was always faithful to his work. There was even a number for each competition. It was planned for how to move which transportation vehicles in a few days. When I read it carefully, it was a close call.

It was as tight as possible.

If I had left it with Shin Se-yeon, I would have made a schedule that would be more relaxed and caring. Of course, it didn't mean it was wrong. It's just a different style. However, for the same type of Hanwoojin, the former director fit in.

“It's a very tight schedule, but I figured you'd be fine. In a week's time, you'll probably have to go to the competition every day. Can you do that? ”

If it's a poison that doesn't give up, you have to push it to the limit to see its value. The awards ceremony was better than anyone else, Han Woo-jin. He won't give up until he does what he can.

On the other hand, Han Woo-jin answered without changing his face. After reading the clear schedule, I had to run to break my body.

“No problem. ”

“... That's enough. ”

If I said I couldn't, I would try to calm down a bit, but I didn't have to. The director once again swallowed a road horse, only tasting it. As soon as the matter was over, silence came. The atmosphere quickly cools down like a pot because only people without words are gathered.

However, Shin Se-yeon opened her mouth and had a conversation. She said it without much thought, but thanks to her, the air that was about to sink into the silence came back to me.

“Director, what's the timeline for your return? The plane doesn't have a ticket until tomorrow. ”

“Hmm... I don't need to rush back now that Woojin's arm is like this. ”

The former director ponders for a moment, then turns to Han Woojin. You were looking at what you wanted to do.

“If you don't have plans anyway, I want to see the final of this competition. ”

“Then let's do it. ”

Since there was nothing to worry about in the financial sector, it was very comfortable in this regard. If you just want to do something about it, that's it. Shin Se-yeon caught a plane ticket for the evening of the final at the Mets Open. It was to save as much time as possible.

“Now get some rest. Don't shoot anywhere. Sleep in your sleep. ”

“Yes, Director, take a rest. ”

Hanwoojin left the room with the former director waving his palms. The door closes quietly, even when I feel powerless.

Since there was still more work to discuss with Shin Se-yeon, the former director cast his gaze back at her. However, it was Shin Se-yeon who started speaking first. She asked a question with her face, just in case.

“Director, are you preparing to send Woojin out to Tokyo Open?

It sounds shocking. If Han Woo-jin were still here, he would have opened his mouth. The weight of the name Tokyo Open was that great.

Tokyo Open was Japan's largest tennis tournament. Competition ratings were also one step higher than the Mets Open.

ATP500.

It was a competition in front of the Masters League. The winner of this competition will earn 500 ATP points. Outside the ranking area, it was possible to jump to the top 100 in the world ranking at once.

Of course, it was also a contest with such difficult difficulties. The ATP500 was also a common rank for athletes with a world ranking of one order. It was not a place worth checking out.

“... That was quick. Woojin caught the agent pretty well. ”

“Isn't it a little early for that? I think I was in a hurry just to open the Mets. ”

Shin Se-yeon was worried about Han Woo-jin. The competition also exceeded expectations, but was injured. If I had gotten better and gone out, I might not have to work too hard. But the director's idea was different.

“There's a saying that iron should be struck when it's hot. Woo-jin is on the rise. It's time to wind up the sails as much as possible. ”

“But the Tokyo Open...”

“I know it's still early. If I don't want to be prepared, I won't let you go. You don't have to worry about that already. ”

I also agreed that the director was still at an early stage. But he was expecting it. Hanwoojin was always a player who exceeded others' expectations.

‘What if, really what if...’

Finish five Challenger Tours with outstanding results and win only one ATP250 league...

The seed rights of the Tokyo Open were not only a fantasy.

* * *

In the audience, not on the coat, Han Woo-jin watched the Mets Open to the end. There was a game that went as expected and there was a game that reversed. Since the eighth war, he's only been interested in two players.

Leonard Sweet defeated him in the 16th.

Andrew Murray beats history on the 32nd River.

Han Woo-jin expected a winner to be one of the two. They were certainly two steps better than the other athletes.

But the march led them to meet in the fourth lecture. The range of rallies was terribly wide, given the jewelry exceeding six feet on both sides. Even after a few steps, they were able to run from the end of their coat to the end.

The winner was Andrew, and Han Woo-jin saw that he had contributed to his victory.

‘I can't believe the damage from that time came and grabbed my ankle. ’

Leonard's wrist, which was slightly damaged by the slug, slips during the battle with Andrew. A sudden decline in power calls for a balance breakdown. Three sets of Andrew managed to successfully defeat Leonard, who had walked all the way to the Tiebreaks in two sets.

Han Woo-jin who saw it there anticipated that the winner would be Andrew, but again the prediction was reversed. Andrew, who spent too much energy in the rally with Leonard, was beaten to a pulp in the final. It was a game that made the sound "Murgy!" pop out.

The winner of the Mets Open was an unprecedented American player named Thomas Jackson. Jackson's skill was only half as good as Han Woo-jin's. I even remembered the assumption that if he were in Jackson's place…

“... What a pity. ”

It was said to be good luck, but unfortunately, I couldn't help it. Han Woo-jin left the venue with a bitter taste. That was the end of his first ATP tour, Mets Open.

< End of Metz Open > End

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