Hm. Really? I remembered that tournament because in 2005 or 2006, my favorite female tennis player Maria Sharapova won that tournament. It just stuck in my mind after that. Maybe I got the date it starts wrong. I think it might be before the US open and after Wimbledon. Whoops. After I'm done with this story, it's going to go through some serious editing!
CHAPTER 2
Studying for upcoming tests was making Kirihara's brain explode. He couldn't wait until a couple of hours from now, to watch Echizen Ryoma play. The thought of it excited him…
"Argh! Math class, I hate you!" his roommate yelled at the other side of the dorm. Akaya snickered. How did that weirdo ever get to college?
"I hear you Kirihara!" Momo yelled. This only made the boy laugh harder…
CENTER COURT
Kirihara Akaya and Momoshiro Takeshi were sitting four seats from the front row, viewing the match from the long way and the umpire was facing them. Andy Roddick was going to return first. Andy Roddick was known as a has been now, and was ranked #15 now. Ryoma and Andy played twelve times, and all those times, Ryoma had beaten him in straight sets. People in the crowds were waiting patiently in their seats to see their hero Echizen Ryoma play.
Ryoma was at the baseline and close to the center line. His left hand gripping his racket seriously, and the tennis ball was in his right hand. He bent his knees and looked straight at Roddick before he tossed the ball up into the air. When the ball reached it's peak, Ryoma jumped about 3 feet into the air and hit the ball with extreme spin. It sliced to the middle, right into Roddick's backhand. Roddick could do nothing but block the ball back, for the spin made it feel so heavy. Unfortunately for Andy, the yellow green ball landed in the service box, which meant Ryoma had an opportunity to go for the kill. He dashed forward and hit the approach down the line, making Roddick use his great wing span to get it, only for it to be hit with an overhead by Ryoma and win the point.
Kirihara and Momo jumped up and cheered. Echizen is amazing. The crowd cheered so loud, that the umpire had to tell them to be quiet down so the next point would start. Now Ryoma was the left side of the court, and suited his left hand. He tossed the ball into the air, and hit a flat ball. It zoomed past Roddick down the middle. Ace. Momo whistled whilst Kirihara just clapped and smirked.
That showoff...
Soon, Ryoma finished off the game with two more service aces and they switched sides. Ryoma didn't even bother taking a sip, but Roddick grabbed his water bottle desperately and took a chug. Roddick toweled himself off, his opponent on the other side, waiting for him. Andy grabbed two tennis balls from the ball boy. He stuck one of them in the pocket of his dark blue shorts, and stood at the baseline.
He and Echizen made eye contact and he started thepoint with his 140 mph serve. Ryoma lunged his body to the right and sliced the ball low. Roddick hit a forehand back to Ryoma's backhand, only to have it be a winner to his own backhand side. Insticntively, Andy Roddick of America let out a groan and then walked back to the baseline to the advantage side.
Andy went for his kick serve, hoping that his shot would put Ryoma in an uncomfortable position. Though he saw that wide smirk on Ryoma's face, and his hope just dropped. Ryoma jumped to the side and hit the ball with his forehand. But it wasn't just any forehand. That's right, the snake shot. Roddick scrambled for the shot and it was wasted. It hit the net.
The American fixed his bracelet that he gave out for his charity (i don't know if he has one, he'd probably will because his idol Andre Agassi has his own school/charity thingy), and went back to the deuce side.
The first set ended with 6-1. But Roddick knew that Echizen let him win that so he wasn't that humiliated...
ABOUT 50 MINUTES LATER
Ryoma eased back and the match ended 6-1, 6-3, in his favor. He and Andy shook hands, and hugged, and then waved to the crowd. Echizen saw Momoshiro sleepy, and Akaya sitting beside him, smiling at him and giving him a thumbs up. He smiled back. There was a special connection, but it was broken by Andre Agassi asking Ryoma a question.
"Ryoma, it's always a pleasure seeing you on the court. You remind me a lot like a certain ice man that won Wimbledon 4 times in a row... but you can't really be compared to him. You are a legend by yourself. I can safely say that you are the greatest player in the world. Tell us, how does it feel?" Andre said. The crowd cheered and went wild. Though, Takeshi was still sleeping.
"Um... thank you Andre. It feels really good. And compliments mean a lot coming from someone as experienced and as good in this game as you-
"Don't be so modest!" Andy laughed. The crowd laughed along.
"Hm. None the less, thank you for coming out to see me play everyone to support us, the players. I hope you continue to cheer for us and give us this strange thrill. After all, you are the only people who can give that to us," Ryoma said, looking straight at Akaya. The 17 year old boy didn't know what was happening inside him. It was like he was about to explode!
Why do such simple words get me so fired up?
Echizen winked at him and then handed the microphone to Andy Roddick. All the American talked about was how he was lucky enough to be able to play Ryoma and how he'll just have to prepare for Wimbledon and try his luck there. After all, his charity counted on him. The crowd clapped and that was the players cue to go back to the locker rooms, change, and then go back to the hotel.
IN THE LOCKER ROOM
Andy Roddick bowed his head low in shame and left the locker room hurriedly, not to see Ryoma and Akaya's little moment...
"You went easy on him. And you actually didn't just answer questions with a grunt," Kirihara said.
Echizen sighed. "My brother said I had to be nicer so I'd get more publicity and so he could get more money. He's my coach and my manager," Ryoma said. Kirihara laughed.
"Must be a pain," Akaya said. Just as Ryoma started putting on his jeans, Akaya watched like a zombie. The silky skin being sucked away by the blue fabric. His legs made him move closer to Ryoma, close enough to smell him. Ryoma backed up until his back pressed against the lockers.
"Huh, where is Momoshiro?" Ryoma asked.
"He left already," Akaya said and leaned even closer. So close that their lips touched...
END OF CHAPTER 2
Wow, that was terrible. Well, see you later!