Chapter 44 - Japan in 2006

What would Hanwoo-jin, who returned to the past, ask for one thing that was clearly different from the past? Skill, ranking, salary… It was an endless story, but what I'm experiencing now is the frequency and frequency of flying.

'Total all the rides from the past will be fewer than this year's ride?'

It was inevitable because of the nature of tennis that attracted more competitions than in Korea. In particular, Hanwoojin has already made a name in the world rankings. Usually there was no reason to be killed by Futures, Korea, who could only hold a challenger level.

will be.

Hanwoojin looked out the window while enjoying the spacious seating unique to the business class. The gas ascending above the clouds was gliding through the blue sky, receiving warm sunlight.

"What do you need?"

The crew crossed the passage as they passed. Hanwoojin, however, did not need anything, and gave up. It takes less than two hours to travel from Korea to Japan anyway. He finished the meal before he got on the plane.

"Who is next?"

"… Yes what. But I don't think this friend needs anything. "

Han Woo-jin returned with a bitter smile. Choi Yeon-hyuk was sitting next to him. After a long while traveling around Europe, Choi Yeon-hyeok slept a few words to him. To the airport

I was dozed off in the car I was talking.

'Three challenger leagues in a row. I'm tired. '

Even if there is a difference in level, winning was a story that could not be guaranteed. The challenger league's consecutive wins were unclear even when they reached the world rankings. If you have a tight schedule attached, you'll have one more drink.

And Choi Yeon-hyuk played three times in a row without a single day.

Still, he seemed to have grown unexpectedly through the misuse.

Han Woo-jin recalled Choi's ability, which he confirmed as soon as he reunited.

[Choi Yeon-hyuk] (fatigue)

Strength 62 (-3) / Health 67 (-3) / Agility 64 (-3)

HP 1910/2680 SP 790/790

Forehand: 14/20

Backhand: 9/20

Serve: 12/20

Volley: 14/20

Smash: 11/20

Dropshot: 9/20

Lob: 10/20

Special Technique: Slippers (Volley)

"Okuda can't even do it."

He mumbled in a small voice. A sigh was growing out of me. The growth rate of Ryosuke Okuda was surprising, but it was not comparable to Choi. It was at Wimbledon in 2007 that Choi was at the peak of her career.

It was time to climb without knowing the high.

I was tired and had a stat down, but there were still four days to the Tokyo Open. In four days, the degree of fatigue remained even better. As Han Woo-jin took off the championship by winning the Shenzhen Open, Choi Yeon-hyuk was also stepping forward.

At that time, Shin Se-yeon in the back seat shook his head. She glanced down to look at Choi Yeon-hyuk, who is asleep.

"Why don't you put some snow on Woojin? I don't have anything to do for the rest of the time anyway. "

"I can't sleep because I've been so rest lately. I'd rather practice. "

It was not an excuse but a fact. Sleeping more than 8 hours a day, and training to relax to the level of strength was left behind. Hanwoojin's eyes often flashed while sleeping. It also meant that there was no fatigue to relieve sleep.

"Would you like to see another draw? I have to brief you all this time without memorizing anything. "

"U… I can see the hardship. "

Hanwoojin shivered and accepted the print she was handing. It was because it was boring to stay until I arrived. On the neatly coated drawer, the names of numerous rankers were listed.

'Two Japanese players, three Korean players… All other players are Western or Middle Eastern. '

Despite being held in the Japanese capital, only Asian players were in the hands. After all, tennis was a strong sport in the West.

How many sports do you think dominate the Asian sphere? Except for sports such as badminton and table tennis, there were still walls that could not be overrun.

Rather, there were as many as five Asians.

Suzuki Takuo, Satoshi Iwamura, Kim Hyung, Han Woo-jin, and Choi Yeon-hyuk were the last fortresses in Asia to participate in the Tokyo Open.

'Once history and Kim Hyung-sen will not collide with… Are you stuck with the emperor on the premise of going to the fourth? I wish I could meet you. '

Choi Yeon-hyuk and Kim Hyung-hyun's names were far apart. There was nothing to attach unless I went up to the final. That meant that there would be no encounter this time. If you don't beat Roger, you won't get to the finals.

At first, it was uncertain whether they could hold out to the quarterfinals. Aside from Roger, the ranker was sloppy. Almost every player was in the top 50, and even the top 10 were in the top 10. Even if you do not go to the emperor

It was wide.

That type of player, Mario, who bears the name of the Croatian flag. He was a top-ranking player who had a history of seven times in the current world rankings.

'There isn't a single opponent. It's a real shroud. '

No one can guarantee victory. The Tokyo Open was that high. Hanwoojin burned up the fight rather than withering. I tried to test myself that was different from before.

[Guests, did you have a comfortable trip? Our aircraft will now descend to land and arrive at our destination, Tokyo International Airport, in about five minutes. The whole Tokyo area is clear and the temperature is 25 degrees. Five

Thank you for always using our Ariana Airlines. ]

An announcement was made to announce a new arrival. Hanwoojin prepared for the view of Tokyo, which began to look out of the window.

It was the start of the Tokyo Open, which would mark the end of his second half of the 2006 season.

* * *

At the Tokyo Open, it was an international competition. Even the official name was not Tokyo Open. The ATP Alliance, collectively referred to as the ATP500 Japan Open, was one of Japan's leading tennis leagues.

So it was a natural procedure for the reporters to come from each country. As long as Roger Pedro, the world's most immovable player, participated, it was not enough to become a knight. South Korea also dispatched a report team to Tokyo squeezing the staff.

MBS, a well-known sports channel, and other broadcasters were also trying to dig up the news by dispatching or hiring journalists who were well-known for tennis.

Sports journalists, Kim Woo-bin and Lim Jong-gil, hired by the GBC side, were such cases. As soon as they arrived, they settled around Tokyo Big Sight, where the tournament was held.

This is because the area is adjacent to the Tokyo Forest, the Ariake Tennis Forest. Ariake, a sacred place for tennis in Japan, takes only 10 minutes on foot from Big Sight.

The two walked the streets out of the lodgings and were amazed by the foreigners passing by. As a reporter in charge of tennis was a strange reaction.

"Wow, you're not the only player you watched on TV or in articles. This Tokyo Open is really Hel, Hel! "

"Why do you speak English without a good Korean? It's just hell. "

When Kim Woo-bin wobbled, he shot lightly at the side of Lim Jong-gil. But he was the same. The emperor was, of course, and the other players were also good at holding the championship on the ATP tour.

Terme in Canada, Mario in Croatia, Benjamin in Germany… If the reporter had a slight annual year, it was full of strong people who can not doubt its ability.

'A Korean player plays on this floor? It makes no sense. '

Lim Jong-gil shook his chin with an unusual expression. It was Japan who came to the Tokyo Open after hearing how many Korean athletes appeared in the Tokyo Open.

But in just one day, the expectation was crushed. It was also a concern that low ratings were shown for their players.

"I don't think this article will ever go away? I don't know if I can go to the quarter-finals even if Kim is good. "

"That way. Looking at the list of players, there were a lot of players with higher rankings than Kim. Wouldn't it be better to expect newcomers this time? "

"Hanwoojin or Choi Yeonhyuk?"

When the friend's reaction was not cool, Kim Woo-bin nodded loudly. In his opinion, the two seemed more likely than Kim.

"A veteran is a seasoned but less explosive younger boy. Han Woo-jin has changed the ATP Korean record, and Choi Yeon-hyuk is not a level to be embraced in the Asian region. "

"I have a ... "

I heard the sound was right back and forth. Lim Jong-gil, with a light conviction, looked at the lottery distributed by the Association. This was to classify the rankings and rankings of players who meet the names of Han Woo-jin, Choi Yeon-hyuk and Kim Hyung-jin.

He pulled out a ballpoint pen and checked it all but soon had no choice but to frown. It is not because one or two bad composition comes out.

'Cheon Yeon-hyuk meets Benjamin in the round of 16, and Kim Hyung-hyeok with Lobredo from the start. It's good to see you later. '

At least Choi Yeon-hyuk was a bit decent. Benjamin stayed in the top rankings with stable performance, but there was no ups and downs. It was not the type of player who could aim at the top. Choi Yeon-hyuk with explosive growth in young blood

It was.

Lobredo, however, had a different story.

Jamie Lobredo, ranked 18th in the world, was an accomplished master of net play. Compared with Kim, he had no experience, and Physical was superior.

If someone asked him to calculate the odds, he had to give Lobredo 6 or 7.

"The best thing about Daejinun is Hanwoojin… How can you wait until you reach the quarterfinals?

Although Hanwoojin is considered as Korea's best prospect, he couldn't guarantee the odds of working against Roger. The final score is confirmed in the semifinals. Of course, even if you go to the quarterfinals, he had to raise his rating two levels.

Indeed, what kind of results will be written in the article, I could not look at any of the views of Lim Jong-gil.

'It's really a contest that doesn't tell you what's going to happen.'

And at the other end of the park he was thinking.

Han Woo-jin, Choi Yeon-hyuk, and two young geniuses are expected to list new horizons in the Korean tennis world. A group of five men, including Sang-sik, manager of the two players, were struggling.

Lim Jong-gil reflexively picked up the camera that was hanging around his neck.

That's why he was here, and it might be a flutter, but he needed a picture for an article he had to upload tomorrow.

At the moment of capturing the faces of the two players, Lim Jong-gil's index finger pressed the shutter.

click.