God of Tennis

What did they say? ’

Hanwoojin recalled the story he had talked with Shin Se-yeon in the cafe just a few days ago. It was about what goals you will have for the next season, which direction you will be scheduling. He moved his momentary wandering gaze to the vicinity of the calendar.

One new calendar date was coming to the end of December after 2006. I also meant that the two months of leisure that the director had announced was short. The second season of Han Woojin was approaching in the first half of 2007, beyond the first season out.

The first season was completed successfully, even in Hanwoojin's mind. I haven't been able to rank in the world more than half a year after my debut, and I have a winning career in the ATP League.

But the second season was also a story that we cannot be sure would produce satisfactory results.

As Han Woo-jin was contemplating the future, his eardrums trembled as he took his eyes off the calendar.

“So, what does Woojin want you to do? ”

It felt strange to him. Now that I think about it, Shin Se-yeon said the same thing. Instead of pushing her way, she asked what path a player named Han Woo-jin wanted to take. Experience. Knowledge.

Compared to him, they are a long way ahead.

‘They are too much for me. ’

South Korea was heavily interfering with the players compared to overseas. Some quality sponsors were not uncommon to change the contest or schedule that athletes would attend. Players prioritize their interests over their own.

And for the so-so South Korean player who did not have the nomination, he could not even resist. Immediately after the loss of support, due to the livelihood of the contract, they had to digest the harsh schedule of unwanted contests according to the sponsors' intentions.

I did not show that emotion. I don't want the director to thank me for this kind of consideration. He pressed on the smile that was about to rise from within, and Han Woo-jin returned the answer to his question.

“I also want to go after the Grand Slam. ”

“Well, do you? ”

The director was spoken to with a grave face. It was a surprising reaction as Han Woo-jin. If it was what Shin Se-yeon had heard, this would have been the answer he wanted, but he was too unresponsive for that. The former director threw some gum in his mouth instead of a pink cigarette.

I thought about it for a moment.

Only a moderately-sized clock hung on the wall makes a faint noise. By the time Hanwoojin had started counting that number inadvertently and reached about thirty, I spit out the gum that the director had chewed and started talking.

“The Grand Slam... can't you reconsider? ”

“Yes?”

Han Woojin's eyes twisted with an unexpected sound. What makes you think this is someone who wants to run for Grand Slam? I even thought that maybe Shin Se-yeon was mistaken. Before he could say anything, I had to ask the director,

I have informed you that there are still words left to say.

“Let me be honest with you. I wanted you to go after Grand Slam this year. Of course, so is history. ”

It was making my head tilt more and more. Hanwoojin literally vomited the thought that came to his mind.

“Then why did you ask me to reconsider? ”

“You're still young. ”

The answer came quickly. However, there was only one thing I could not understand in English. When Han Woo-jin didn't seem to understand, I let out a deep sigh as if the director would.

“Only twenty-four now. It's a long way to go to show talent. I also felt that there was no need to threaten your chances by taking on too much of the challenge in such situations. ”

Twenty-four. Twenty-two, to be exact. He was just a senior tennis player, or some of the top junior players were the same age as the prospective players who had been fast beaten for years.

It means you're not old enough to challenge a Grand Slam to look for announcements like a win or a runner-up. Certainly there were some exceptions, but it was too much to expect Han Woo-jin or Choi Yeon-hyeok to be such exceptions.

Having heard that, Han Woo-jin understood the true nature of the director. It was really a simple story.

‘You don't need to gamble. ’

To put it mildly, Han Woo-jin and Choi Yeon-hyuk were finally the top contenders in Korea, who had always been chewing on defeat. I don't know how long I'll wait again if I miss this opportunity. And Sujita to improve tennis in Korea

It was also the last hidden card of Chairman Jo who gave up the mountain.

Maybe they thought it was enough to grow slowly. You don't have to go after Grandslam for the second year of your debut and take on a reckless challenge to the world stage where a monster named Roger rules. If I turn my head a little bit,

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

But not Han Woo-jin.

“I won't change my mind. I want to challenge Grand Slam no matter what the outcome. ”

“Why? You're a smart guy, even if you look like one. I'm not in the habit of making small talk. So there must be a reason for that choice. ”

It was true. Han Woo-jin smiled bitterly at the director, who was so well acquainted with himself.

He never said he was going to the Grand Slam without a reason. It was not the blood of a young man, or arrogance, or arrogance. It was just a choice that I decided was seriously the best.

‘There are limits to the growth of the system's calibration. It's too hard to repeat the game okay. ’

The power that Han Woo-jin had instead of talent, the system was inhospitable. The accomplishments you accomplished were not rewarded twice again, and left little to gain from opponents or competitions far below your level.

Win at ATP250, making 4 runs at ATP500. These two achievements have brought a lot of progress to Han Woojin, but in return they have reduced or eliminated the rewards of all achievements that are not there. Future wins a few times at the Challenger level

Either way, Han Woojin will have no reward.

Moreover, it was difficult for Han Woo-jin to grow as expected by the former director or Chairman Cho. So far, he's been able to evolve at an explosive rate because he hasn't stopped going through adversity after adversity.

The power of the system was a blessing to Hanwoojin beyond the walls of talent, but it was also an unfortunate fate to face endless difficulties. He's just a criminal. He needs to go beyond the corresponding ordeal to advance.

But there was one problem.

How do I explain this? ’

This was one of the reasons for his bitter smile. It was impossible to properly explain this choice unless you divulged your system's capabilities.

So, Han Woo-jin just smiled with a disheartening look.

You just want the award ceremony to believe in your own choices without any assumptions.

I will believe and follow Woojin no matter what choice he makes. So don't worry about it. Choose what you want and what you think is right.

Somehow, some kind words I heard from Shin Se-yeon crossed my mind. She didn't ask for excuses or reasons. He said he would believe it because it was his choice.

At the end of Hanwoojin's gaze, the former director raised his head. He hung his chin with a stubborn beard and spoke in a middle-aged voice.

“... Okay, give it a try. ”

As if it were a small wager, the director comfortably confirmed his choice.

* * *

Creak.

As soon as I returned home from my consultation with the director, Han Woo-jin was lying on his bed. There was no physical burden at all, but it was also somewhat mentally nervous. Holding his slightly throbbing head, he mutters in a small voice.

“Grand Slam.... ”

GrandSlam.

It was also an expression that refers to Mannu home runs, etc., in baseball. But it was the four biggest and most named competitions in tennis. Sorted by Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. Achievements.

It also refers to winning all of these competitions.

It was the dream and destination of all tennis players, including Hanwoojin, and is now a destination that was occupied by more than half by a monster named Roger. If the King of Clay Court, Napa 'el Radal, had not defended the French Open, then perhaps Roger would have spoken the true meaning of the Grand.

You could have beaten Slam.

Of course, Han Woo-jin was not aiming for such ridiculous achievements. In the second year of his debut, he was aiming for a Grand Slam achievement in a similar context to the fact that a player who had just become a pro was expected to win the Balondor Prize.

“The nearest Grand Slam is open in Australia… but the date is too early. ”

Hanwoojin picked up the file that he had left on his pillow head lying down. It was a bundle of A4 paper handwritten by Shin Se-yeon.

When he said he would challenge the Grand Slam, Shin Se-yeon wrote a series of plans for the process. How many ATP points do you have to win in order to get a seed, what competition do you have to compete for, what grade do you have to score?

1.

“Oh, man, I can't run like this. ”

The schedule for the 2007 Australian Open in the file was January 15-28. There were a lot of reasons for Han Woo-jin to start the season soon. It was not a ranking for seed, and it took time to make my condition prevailing.

It was Yoda.

Therefore, the file that Shin Se-yeon handed over did not consider any Australian Open entries. Only Sydney International, the ATP250 league, which takes place about two weeks before the Australian Open, was listed in the upcoming competition in January.

‘Sydney? So this is another contest in Australia. ’

If we're good, we can still make it to Australia Open.

Han Woo-jin remembered that feeling without much thought.

However, he soon realized why Shin Se-yeon chose the competition for the first time in the second season.

“Did you use the Australian Open? ”

Sydney International and the Australian Open were close in schedule. If I went to Sydney International, I would have to continue the Australian Open without taking a short break. Of course, if you get out of Sydney International soon,

It may be a little different, but there's no way a groundskeeper could have gone off the grid at ATP250 in an instant.

In other words, the likelihood of encountering top rankers in Sydney International 2007 has been reduced considerably. Shin Se-yeon probably chose this competition to report on.

‘But it will never be easy. ’

ATP250, although it was a Hanwoojin that made ATP250 league victories through propaganda openings, was never easy to see. The top rankers would play in Australia, no matter how rare the competition. compared to previous propaganda openings

At least one, maybe more than two, difficult competitions. At the Tokyo Open, I might not be as crazy as the strength I gained after working with Roger.

But what about it?

Get up from bed. My head, which was sore from lying for a while, quickly opened up. This little fatigue never stops me. He used to be a human race who didn't know he was giving up. Difficulty, adversity, obstacle.

As long as it was Lee, I could keep walking.

Hanwoojin placed the file on his desk and looked out the window. When I looked back in the past, the sun was still shining, and the breeze was no different. The news released some vague news about the past, and it's exactly the same where he didn't know it.

was recurring history.

Only he stood in a different place than before.

“... I came all the way here to stop now. ”

I have been desperate for almost a year. The moment I took a few steps beyond the admirable and jealous genius, I was caught up in the distance that was spread out in just one month.

It was never fair. People move forward at different speeds.

So we have to walk differently.

Tougher place, harder place.

without stopping.

Ends

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