Return to 2002: Freestyle Superstar

Chapter 94 Becoming a Pioneer in Tennis

Although Chen Ran won the second round of the match relatively easily, he was still very excited.

The quarterfinals of the ATP Tour are considered a moderate threshold for many tennis players.

If you can break into the quarterfinals all year round, even if you are only at the ATP250 level, you have established a firm foothold in the tour.

When promoting to the outside world, you can also confidently say that you are a tour-level player.

Chen Ran clenched his fists happily when he came off the stage.

"Chen, great job!" Sergey clapped his hands excitedly, "You have unparalleled talent on the hard court."

The top eight is just the bottom line for Chen Ran.

After a brief moment of excitement, he asked in a low voice: "Has Safin entered over there?"

That's what he cares about.

"In!" Sergey nodded and replied, "But it was a bit difficult. Both sets were 7-5."

"Maybe he's in poor condition, maybe he's deliberately delaying time to practice more, who knows."

Chen Ran packed up his luggage quickly and got on the special car arranged by the organizing committee to return to the hotel.

After he broke into the top 8, his total points reached 195 points, the total prize money of this event reached 6000 US dollars, and his immediate ranking reached 277th.

At this time, the phone rang suddenly.

Chen Ran glanced at the caller, and it turned out to be Zhou Yuan, a full-time tennis reporter from Sports Weekly.

A public figure like him usually prepares two mobile phones, one for personal use and one for work.

Chen Ran also knows that he still needs to have a good relationship with the media, and he can't act like enemies and be in dire straits.

So he gave Zhou Yuan his work mobile phone number.

"But I was tricked by you!"

Chen Ran muttered in his heart, hesitated for a moment, and finally answered the phone.

After all, he didn't blame Zhou Yuan. After all, this was the other party's job, so it was understandable.

Zhou Yuan, who was on the other end of the phone, was obviously very excited and said, "Chen Ran, congratulations on making history."

"Reporter Zhou Da, you are too well-informed! There is obviously not a single Chinese reporter here." Chen Ran said with a helpless smile.

Zhou Yuan didn't know that he had ruined Chen Ran's good deeds, and thought that the other party just wanted to keep a low profile.

"There are no reports in China, and there are no live broadcasts. I can only stay by the computer and constantly refresh the ATP official website."

That's it!

Chen Ran was still a little moved after hearing this. This reporter was very conscientious.

"To be honest, I'm actually very grateful to you." Zhou Yuan said with some emotion, "I am only responsible for writing the article. As for whether it can be published on the front page, it is the editor-in-chief who has the final say."

"The youngest person in Asian history to win his first ATP Tour event. Such a name made the editor-in-chief decide to put you on the front page."

"I admit that if my article is on the front page, my performance salary will be higher."

Chen Ran was also amused by Zhou Yuan's frankness: "I won the bonus and you won the performance. Isn't that good?"

"But isn't your usual salary comparable to those of football and basketball reporters?"

"Football reporters are definitely the best, and basketball reporters didn't have many more reporters than me before. But you know..." Zhou Yuan paused and said with envy, "Since Yao Ming landed in the NBA, the basketball section has become more and more Importantly, the income of basketball reporters has also increased."

"But..." He changed the subject and took a deep breath, "I believe that the golden age of tennis is about to come."

Chen Ran smiled, and then asked: "So you hope that I can drive tennis fever like Yao Ming drove basketball craze?" "I am a tennis reporter, and of course I hope that the related industries I am engaged in can become more and more prosperous. ah."

Chen Ran held the phone and looked up at the blue sky, seemingly thoughtful.

In 2002, he won a challenge championship in Shanghai, which made tennis popular, and now it is 2003...

Then it's time to let this little fire burn more vigorously.

In the original time and space, tennis became popular after Li Na won the French Open in 2011.

Tennis courts are popping up all over the country, including in universities and primary and secondary schools.

Even Chen Ran's alma mater high school built a tennis court based on Li Na's popularity.

However, the popularity of tennis brought by Li Na was short-lived. She won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, but only half a year later, she announced her retirement.

During this peak period, it only lasted three years, and it was like a fleeting moment.

After that, the popularity of tennis declined rapidly, seeming to be back to what it was before Li Na won the Grand Slam.

The difference is that there are indeed many more tennis fans in China than before.

Male players in the ATP or female players in the WTA will occasionally have some shining performances, which will also attract reports from the official media.

But this achievement pales in comparison to the "Li Na era".

In addition, Chen Ran also believes that Li Na actually missed the best period to promote tennis in 2011 when she won her first Grand Slam.

So when is the best time to promote tennis?
This is now the turn of the century!
China has just joined the WTO and is opening its arms to the world.

People are also full of curiosity and longing for the outside world.

The world's top sports events have also set their sights on China.

Such as the five major European football leagues, the Champions League, NBA, F1, and the four major tennis Grand Slams, etc.

However, if top foreign leagues want to successfully promote the sport to China, in addition to the popularity of the sport itself in China, they also need Chinese people to be involved in these sports.

And it can’t just be scraps, it must have outstanding results.

"The turn of the century is the best time to promote tennis! The next ten years will be crucial, and I will play the role of a pioneer."

Just when Chen Ran was silent, Zhou Yuan's voice continued to come from the other end of the phone.

"Chen Ran, I hope you can continue to make history on behalf of China Tennis. All of us in the tennis industry will be proud of you!" Zhou Yuan said excitedly.

Obviously, everyone is in a prosperous relationship.

After Chen Ran came to his senses, he said with a smile: "The next game between me and Safin, you Sports Weekly will make good arrangements."

Safin! ! !

Zhou Yuan suddenly became excited and asked with a trembling tone: "Is it the Grand Slam winner, the Russian Safin?"

"Who else but him?"

"No... I'm just too excited and a little incoherent." Zhou Yuan looked a little embarrassed.

This is too fast. At the end of last year, Chen Ran played against the Asian Games silver medalist Li Hengze, and now he has become the Grand Slam winner Safin, who is ranked among the top five in the world.

In fact, although Safin is not as popular as Agassi, Sampras and others in China today, he is still at the forefront.

Chen Ran VS Safin, the topic was immediately full.

……

(End of this chapter)