"Zhang Guan grabbed the wild card spot that was supposed to belong to me! This year was supposed to be the same as in previous years. There were three wild card spots in the men's singles event for local Australian players, but in the end Australian players only got two of them. The other one was given to Zhang Guan!"
"I don't know what method Zhang Guan used to get that wild card spot, but I am very sure that it is unfair! Zhang Guan is a track and field athlete. He has not participated in any professional tennis competitions before. He has not participated in any competitions. Records, without any ATP points, maybe he can’t even serve, he is a complete layman, what qualifications does he have to get a Grand Slam wild card? Giving him a wild card spot is simply a waste!"
"The certificate of an ATP professional tennis player? Didn't you check where that certificate came from? It's just a prize for a charity event! It doesn't prove that he is a professional tennis player at all!"
"The sponsor's wild card is legal, of course I know that! If this sponsor's wild card was awarded to a professional tennis player, I have nothing to say, but now this wild card is actually awarded to a layman, I absolutely Unacceptable. Yes, I don't have top sponsors, but I am a tennis player, I love tennis, I have been practicing tennis since I was a child, training day and night, and I think as long as you work hard, you will be rewarded ! But I didn’t expect that I would lose to the sponsor this time! Sponsor wild card? In my opinion, there is no difference from spending money to buy a wild card!”
This exclusive interview by Chris Guccione appeared in a Melbourne media the next day. Taking advantage of Zhang Guan's participation in the Australian Open, the report quickly became popular. Guccione completely put himself into the spotlight. Being placed in the position of a weakling also won the sympathy of many people. At the same time, Guccione's status as a local Australian player also gave him a lot of bonus points.
A local radio station in Melbourne also conducted a street survey and asked some people for their views on this matter.
"I think what Guccione said is very reasonable. Giving an Australian Open wild card spot to a track and field athlete is indeed a very unfair thing!" said one interviewee.
"Zhang Guan is indeed a big-name athlete, but he is not a tennis player after all! Can a sponsor pay for a wild card? I am really surprised! I sympathize with Guccione, and I am also disgusted with the Australian Open Organizing Committee. This kind of behavior,” said another respondent.
"Zhang Guan? What else can he do besides running faster? I didn't even know he could play tennis! I thought he would be eliminated in the first round!" This interviewee obviously did not think highly of Zhang. crown.
"The Chinese actually stole the spot for our Australian players! God! Is this still the Australian Open? Tell me quickly when Zhang Guan's match will start. Yes, I want to watch his match. I will give it to He was booed all over the place! I want to see with my own eyes how he was eliminated!" The interviewee seemed very excited and was obviously dissatisfied with Zhang Guan.
At the same time, some Australian sports commentators also spoke out:
"The current Australian Open is no longer worthy of being a Grand Slam-level event. This event is full of rotten money. An athlete who has never participated in a professional tennis match just because he has the world's top reputation and A first-class sponsor can qualify for the Australian Open, which is simply an insult to this event! Zhang Guan's appearance at the Australian Open may really attract more viewers to watch the Australian Open. Maybe it can really improve the ratings of the TV broadcast, but this effect is probably only for one game! I think Zhang Guan will be swept out in the first round! He can't win a game, maybe he can win one game, and that's it. Thank God! Dear viewers, you are about to see a game that will be recorded in history, a game that will be recorded in history as a laughing stock!"
…
On the training ground, Michael Joyce waved his hand helplessly and said to Sharapova who was not far away: "Martha, it seems that I am going to live up to your expectations this time! I have never seen Zhang For such a perfect tennis player, from a technical point of view, he is very good at serving, returning serve, forehand, backhand, net ball, volley ball, high-pressure ball, and footwork. He can't find any weaknesses at all! And when it comes to handling the ball, even Sampras, the best player in the world, is no better than that! To be honest, I have nothing more to teach him. To put it bluntly, he was born for tennis!"
Michael Joyce is Sharapova's current coach, sparring partner, personal physician, and psychotherapist. It can be said to be Sharapova's full-time nanny. He was also a professional player and became a tennis player after retiring. The coach is also the biggest contributor to Sharapova's 2006 US Open championship and 2008 Australian Open championship.
Zhang Guan was about to participate in the main draw of the Australian Open, but did not have her own coach, so Sharapova asked Joyce to be Zhang Guan's coach, and Joyce readily agreed.
Coach Joyce originally thought that it wouldn’t be difficult to teach a newbie. However, after a few days, Coach Joyce discovered that he really had nothing to teach Zhang Guan. In terms of physical fitness, technique, and experience, Zhang Guan had shown that Everything was perfect.
Sharapova shrugged helplessly. Zhang Guan's performance also exceeded her expectations. She even thought Zhang Guan might win this year's Australian Open championship!
"I can no longer watch Zhang Guan practice! It's such a huge blow! People used to say that I was a genius tennis girl, but compared with Zhang Guan, I seem to be so stupid that I can't even be considered a scumbag!" Sharapova was very unwilling. He pouted and said to Joyce: "Then let's stop here today! Do you want to go to dinner together?"
Joyce shook his head and refused wisely: "Forget it, I won't be the light bulb between you! Oh, by the way, there seem to be a lot of reporters outside today, all for Zhang Guan. After a while, Pay attention when you leave!"
…
When Zhang Guan and Sharapova walked out of the training center, they did see a large group of reporters. The reporters also saw them and immediately surrounded them.
"Zhang Guan, Chris Guccione said that you stole his wild card spot. What do you think of this?" a reporter asked.
Zhang Guan was obviously well prepared. He said: "In competitive sports, of course players with higher strength should get the opportunity to play. My strength is much higher than Guccione, so it is natural for me to get this wild card." !”
"But you have never played a professional tennis match!" a reporter said.
"That's why you don't know how powerful I am!" Zhang Guan said immediately.
"You seem to be very confident in your ability, but now everyone thinks that you will be swept out in the first round!" A reporter said sarcastically.
"'Think' doesn't mean 'fact', does it?" Zhang Guan asked rhetorically, and then continued: "I have only one goal for participating in this Australian Open, and that is to win the Australian Open! I will definitely be able to win it. This Australian Open champion!”
The fifth update is over and it’s the end of the month. Do you still have your monthly tickets? If there are any, throw them over! In addition, the update will start from the afternoon tomorrow.
(End of chapter)