Chapter 94: Big Shot (1)

Road Raver Arena in Melbourne, Australia.

-Hello, tennis fans in Korea. This is Lee Seung-yong from Melbourne, where the semifinal round for the women's singles of the Australian Open is being held. Many Koreans have come out to cheer Ko Yoon-ah, the first Korean female player to break through the 16th round in a major tournament and reach the semifinals with a series of unexpected events…….

The faces of Korean casters and commentators who were wearing Korean flag badges were very bright.

– What do you think about today's game, Inho?

– I don't think it’ll be easy. Vinesa ranks 12th on the world rankings, which is a huge difference from Ko Yoon-ah, who is currently 108th.

-I heard that players outside the top 100 rarely reach the semifinals.

-That's right. Ko Yoon-ah's advance to the semifinals is truly a miracle.

-At this moment, our Ko Yoon-ah is on the court!

The main camera zoomed in on Ko Yoon-ah.

With a height of 173cm, a healthy and young appearance. Her popularity soared after the news of her game became known to Korea, resulting in on-site broadcasts at prime time in Korea.

-Player Ko Yoon-ah doesn't look very nervous.

-Tennis is a solitary sport. Qualifying for the semifinals from the bottom not as a seed speaks volumes about Ko Yoon-ah's mental strength.

-The strong heart of a 20-year-old player looks amazing. Spain's Vinesa Murgu, her semifinal opponent, also took the court. She looks very light.

-In the quarterfinals, Ko Yoon-ah won after a neck-and-neck race in the third set, but her opponent Vinesa scored a neat victory during the second set.

The preparation time was over while the broadcaster and commentator continued talking. As the two players gathered in the middle of the court, the referee threw a coin to determine who had the right to serve.

-Ko Yoon-ah has the first serve. This is advantageous. Ko Yoon-ah's specialty lies in a serve with a strong drive. I hope she does well until the end.

The first set game began with the referee's whistle.

Ko Yoon-ah tapped the tennis ball and bounced it against the floor as she proceeded to toss the ball to head level. She slightly bent both knees and jumped flexibly toward the sky.

Tang!

The ball flew across the court, crossed the net and stuck under the opponent's feet.

-Service ace! Vinesa couldn't respond to Ko Yoon-ah's serve!

-It was a powerful shot!

Ko Yoon-ah's second serve began in line with the cheers of the broadcasters. This time again, she strongly struck the opponent's court, but Vinesa countered it.

-Return!

Ko Yoon-ah's backstroke ran quickly to the other side. Vinesa couldn't keep up.

-Continuous points! It's a good start with momentum!

When she took one point with her third and fourth play, Koreans in the audience and tennis fans from other countries enthusiastically shouted for Ko Yoon-ah.

In the 2nd play, Vinessa won. Ko Yoon-ah won the third and fourth play.

-Ko Yoon-ah is fierce!

-If she can take the first set, there is a good chance of her reaching the finals.

The balance collapsed when Ko Yoon-ah won the five plays like a watershed. With a 6-3 score, Ko Yoon-ah took the first set.

-Are we going to the finals?

The start of the second set was from Vinesa's serve.

Ko Yoon-ah seemed to be good at catching up, but Vinesa's winning play with seasoned skill increased, and the set ended with a score of 6-4.

-It's right before the last set. Oh… Ko Yoon-ah looks very tired. We need the support of everyone.

The rally had extended from the first game of the third set. Ko Yoon-ah took one game after a close deuce match.

-If you win five more times like this…….

1-1. 2-2. 2-2 The tight race continued, and the game time exceeded two hours.

-Set score 6-6. The game enters a tiebreak. Vinesa is sweating heavily.

-Vinesa also used up a lot of energy. She probably didn't expect a tough match by a 108th-ranked player. From now on, it's an advantageous fight for those who don't make mistakes.

Ko Yoon-ah was preparing to serve. She bounced the ball and hit it with all her strength. It was so sharp and fast that Vinesa's racket couldn't touch the ball.

-ACE!

When "190KPH" was photographed at the sub-speed of the electronic display, admiration came out from all over the audience.

-190? Isn't this the world's best serve speed?

-You're growing even during the game, Ko Yoon-ah. She’s very focused in the second half of the game. Now, if she can catch only one of Vinesa's two subs, she has a chance of winning. This is the final round of the Grand Slam Tournament!

Vinesa's serve in a tiebreak of 1:0. Vinesa's hand was tangled by Ko Yoon-ah's counterattack with both-handed strokes.

-Return accceeee!! Everyone! Ko Yoon-ah is 2 points ahead!

A series of Vinesa's serves led to a long rally. After that, Ko Yoon-ah, who did not lose concentration, scored.

-3 to 0! Lost the match against Vinesa!

-Ko Yoon-ah, who had an advantage in serving, will get two serve tickets! Let's go to the finals!

The excited voices of the broadcasters rang inside the overheated stadium.

Ko Yoon-ah, who was taking a deep breath, bounced the ball and tossed it as it was. Unique dynamic serve posture. The broadcasters, the audience, and the viewers of South Korea held their breath.

And

Ting!

The ball, which was not expected to fall on the opponent's court, was caught in the net. When Ko Yoon-ah dropped her racket and grabbed her right arm, the camera was also surprised and fixed on her.

-P-player Ko Yoon-ah?

-I think there's a problem with her arm. A request for medical help came in.

The medical staff and the coach rushed into Ko Yoon-ah, who collapsed while crouching. The coach, who got up from his seat, shook his head at the referee with a grim look.

-Player Ko Yoona…… expresses her intention to abstain.….

Ko Yoon-ah left the court with support from the medical staff. The expression of the broadcasters looking at her with devastation spread across the sea to viewers across Korea.

【Ko Yoon-ah, the hope of Korean tennis. A tennis elbow diagnosis that is fatal to a player's life?】

【World ranking goes up vertically! What is the future of the injured tennis queen?】

【The only tennis broadcast with a 16% viewer rating. Ko Yoon-ah was the gust of wind that ended unfortunately!】

【Ko Yoon-ah, who was cheered for by the whole nation, returns home today before Lunar New Year's Day】

* * *

Dowook was humming on his way to work.

‘How long has it been since I had a holiday?’

If he worked hard until today, he could take three consecutive days off during the Lunar New Year period starting tomorrow.

Happiness that came after working the weekend shifts and conducting a tight surgical schedule. He was now just imagining how relaxing it would be to sleep well today and tomorrow, resting for one more day afterwards.

Dowook passed the hospital driveway and turned around the corner. His humming was cut off because of someone who was in a hurry and bumped into his shoulder.

A woman wearing a hat and a mask bowed her head to Dowook as he regained his balance after stumbling slightly.

"I'm sorry…"

"No. I walked without looking where I was heading."

As he was going to the hospital while trying to calm his excitement over the holiday, the woman wearing a mask carefully asked.

"Do you know where Myeong Sae University's park is?"

The campus of the university was quite large due to how old it was.

"If you go toward the north gate, there will be a gym. It's in front of that.”

"Thank you."

Bowing, once again, she moved along the path Dowook pointed to her.

Carrying a sports bag, she was quite tall like a model. Half a span difference with himself. It was a noticeable appearance because it was early in the morning and was in a deserted street.

‘Hold on. We bumped into each other, but why was I the only one that bounced off?’

Somehow, it seemed embarrassing as a man, so he coughed awkwardly and hurried to walk in the opposite direction.

Dowook went up to the fifth floor and into the staff room as he saw Nam Hana sitting while yawning.

Click.

“Hana.”

“Huh? Senior, you’re here.”

“How’s your schedule?”

“Seongtae and I will take turns after a day. The 4 new guys who just came in will stay for the full time.”

“New guys?”

Nam Hana pointed to a corner of the staff room with her chin.

The 4 prospective residents who would officially start their residency in March were spread out all over the table and sofa.

“Whoa. The office looks cramped since 4 of them are like that.”

“It’s so annoying since there’s so many things to teach them.”

“They’ll do great even if you take it slow. I’m gonna go on my rounds starting from 9 o’clock, I’ll take one of those annoyances. I might have to hand you the care of some patients over the holidays.”

“Did you get a long vacation?”

“3 days.”

“Wow…”

“I didn’t get it for free. Close your mouth before you lose your jaw, and send over a bright one later.”

He passed through the room and opened the door to the office.

Looking at the clock on the wall, it was 8AM. It was the time he got to work when there was nothing urgent.

Opening his laptop and checking the patient charts that had been updated, he received a message.

[Dr. Park, could you come over to the Neurology clinic at 10? The Rehabilitation Department and the Orthopedic Department couldn’t find the cause of the pain so they transferred a patient. The case is quite complicated.]

It was from Prof. Lee Won Seok.

Seeing how work came finding him just as he was thinking he had some free time, he would have to continue being busy.

After replying that he would go over, someone knocked on the office door.

-Dr. Park, we came to follow you on your rounds!

It was the energetic voice of the residents in training.

When Dowook opened the door with the tablet used for checking on the patient charts, he saw four people in the hallway bowing at him in greeting.

“Huh? I told her to only send one.”

“Everyone had nothing to do in the morning so they came to learn by observing. And my name is We Dae Han, senior.” [T/N: We Dae Han literally translates to ‘great’ in English.]

“Ok. Nice to meet you, Dr. We… what?”

The name of the 29-year-old greenhorn doctor was quite unique.

“My dream is to be a great neurosurgeon just like Prof. Choi Hoo and Dr. Park Dowook.”

Looking at his shining eyes, he had more than enough passion.

Dowook turned to the other trainees and pointed at We Dae Han.

“Is his nickname by any chance…”

“It’s Great We, yes. He always says the word.”

A junior with the name tag saying ‘Kim DongHyun’ replied with a chuckle. We Dae Han shook his head with a red face but Dowook just patted him on the shoulder.

“Ok. Work hard and do your best to reach your dream, Dr. Great We.”

“Yes sir! Ah, I mean…”

“Dr. Kim DongHyun, Dr. Ahn Ju Hwan, Dr. Son Eun Gyeong. Nice to meet you.”

After the greeting filled with laughter, Dowook headed straight for the patient ward.

Ding.

Getting off the elevator, Dowook handed the tablet to We Dae Han.

“I have 13 patients under my care. The one to pay the most attention to is Yoo Deok Chul who just had a hematoma evacuation recently.”

Since they said there were a lot of residents who applied, he probably wasn’t picked for his unique name. Dowook asked his junior who was looking at the chart with a light tone.

“What side effects should patients who underwent traumatic subdural hematoma removal be careful of?”

At the question, We Dae Han replied with a stiff and nervous expression.

“In acute cases, the intranasal pressure should be checked carefully until the cerebral edema subsides. It is also necessary to make sure that there is no loss of consciousness, speech impairment, or epileptic attacks to determine the degree of secondary nerve damage.”

It was the answer of someone who had studied quite a bit.

“Ok. Starting today for 3 days, check every 6 hours. You’re quite great, Dr. We.”

Although he received praise, his cheeks turned as red as a while ago.

“Patient Shin Soo-cheol underwent an aneurysm ligation 10 days ago. High blood pressure was caused by cerebral artery dilation. Who wants to talk about what the needed treatment will be?”

All four raised their hands at the same time.

“Oh, why don’t you try, Dr. Kim?”

“Secondary brain damage must be watched out for so we have to make sure he doesn’t suffer from hypoxia, hypotension, hypoglycemia…”

“You’re correct but. Dong Hyun speaks too much like a textbook. Dr. We Dae Han.”

At the unaffected tone, We Dae Han turned his head.

“Yes?”

“Every 12 hours for patient Shin Soo-cheol.”

“Yes sir… but, doctor.”

“No.”

“Huh? What?”

“I can not allow for our Great Dr. We to be placed at a lower station.”

At We Dae Han’s teary expression, his peers all burst into laughter again.

Passing by the ICU, the question and answer session continued, causing time to fly by.

The work which would normally only take him 15 minutes took a lot longer but the joy of teaching these sproutlings made him forget the time.

Vrrrr.

Then, his phone rang and when he checked it, he saw Prof Lee Won Seok’s name.

“Oh…….”

Just remembering that he had promised to meet the professor, Dowook answered his phone.

“Professor, I’ll be right there after I finish my rounds.”

-It’s not that. You don’t have to come over right away.

“What?”

-A patient who was hospitalized in the orthopedic ward is currently missing.

“Missing?”

-She was still here at dawn but when the nurse went in in the morning, she was gone.

“Who’s the patient?”

-Oh, it’s Ko Yoon-ah. The tennis player. You should also know. Security has been informed so they’ll call once they find her.

Dowook hung up and tilted his head. Seeing how Prof Lee Won Seok has requested for his help, it should be someone famous, but since he didn’t watch any TV, he didn’t know who she was.

Dowook asked the juniors standing in front of him.

“Do you guys know who Ko Yoon-ah is?”

At the question, the 4 all paused. We Dae Han asked him with wide eyes.

“Senior, was the call just now about Ko Yoon-ah?”

“Yeah.”

“W-with Ko Yoon-ah?”

“Damn. I heard she hurt her arm so she came to Dr. Park Dowook?”

He figured out how famous she was from the surprised expressions on his juniors’ faces. Dowook’s eyes widened after he took out his phone and googled ‘Ko Yoon-ah.’

‘Huh? This looks like that person from this morning…….’