The Prince of Tennis Episode 10 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
In the world of competitive tennis, tensions run high both on and off the court. Yu Feng Middle School, having just triumphed over Fifty-Five Middle School, finds their victory tainted by a private match scandal. Yu Feng's Xu Ziping is furious to discover Shen Weiming played privately against Xing Yao Middle School's Ji Jingwu, a clear violation of team rules.
Shen Weiming himself is embarrassed by his loss to Ji Jingwu and is sternly reminded by Xu Ziping to adhere to regulations. Meanwhile, at Yu Qing Middle School, team captain Mu Siyang also learns of one of his own players, Qiao Chen, engaging in an unsanctioned match with Ji Jingwu. Though initially angered, Siyang acknowledges Xing Yao's formidable strength.
He decides to take his team to observe Xing Yao's match, but their lightning-fast play ends too quickly for Yu Qing to gain any useful insights. Chi Dayong later recounts to Lu Xia Yu Qing’s past struggles against Xing Yao, revealing that Yu Qing had lost significantly, with Mu Siyang being the only one to secure a win in a singles match against Ji Jingwu, an effort that regrettably led to a debilitating hand injury.
Despite the past setback, Mu Siyang asserts Yu Qing’s newfound strength, vowing they won't lose to Xing Yao again. Elsewhere, Qi Ying, watching the match, contemplates whether Lu Xia would mind her wearing a wristband she embroidered, identical to his, much to the playful jealousy of her friend Peng Xiang.
Back at Yu Qing, a minor squabble erupts when Qiao Chen, indulged in his love for hamburgers in the locker room, accidentally dirties Zhang Baiyang's headband, which he used as a placemat. The two nearly come to blows but are interrupted by Chi Dayong, who summons them to a team meeting. There, coach Qi Na announces the lineup for their crucial match against Guozi Middle School.
Yan Zhiming explains the gravity of the situation: Guozi Middle School's strategist, Guan Yue, is an analysis expert who has meticulously studied all of Yu Qing's players, identifying their strengths and weaknesses to tailor Guozi’s strategies. Determined to gain intel, Yan Zhiming attempts to recruit Zhuo Zhi for a reconnaissance mission to Guozi Middle School, but Zhuo Zhi declines.
Yan Zhiming proceeds alone and encounters Guan Yue, who confidently boasts about his detailed knowledge of Yu Qing's tactics and vulnerabilities, certain that even Guozi's less skilled players can exploit them. Simultaneously, Zhuo Zhi coincidentally observes his brother, Zhuo Yu, practicing new, physically demanding serving techniques, which Zhuo Yu claims are superior to anything Zhuo Zhi taught him.
Zhuo Zhi is angered, realizing Guan Yue is manipulating his brother and teaching him dangerous methods, fueling Zhuo Zhi's desire to defeat Guan Yue on the court. It's revealed that Zhuo Zhi and Zhuo Yu, once close brothers who bonded over tennis, grew apart due to Zhuo Yu's insecurity. Zhuo Yu, feeling overshadowed and resented rumors that he only made the team because of Zhuo Zhi, became obsessed with proving himself, making him susceptible to Guan Yue's machinations.
Guan Yue, intent on a showdown with Zhuo Zhi, initially dangled the prospect of Zhuo Yu playing Zhuo Zhi to gain Zhuo Yu's trust. However, just before the match, Guan Yue deceptively claims to have misjudged Yu Qing's roster and manipulates Zhuo Yu into playing Lu Xia in third singles, reasoning that Zhuo Yu is better suited to face a left-handed player like Lu Xia, while believing Zhuo Yu cannot defeat Zhuo Zhi.
Both Zhuo Zhi and Zhuo Yu are left unsettled before the match begins. The highly anticipated match between Yu Qing and Guozi Middle School commences. Due to court limitations, two doubles matches are played concurrently, leaving reporter Xiao Sha unsure which to cover. The first doubles pair for Yu Qing is the unlikely duo of Qiao Chen and Zhang Baiyang. Their history of bickering makes the crowd, and even Guozi's opponents, Qin Yifei and Liu Zecheng, doubt their cohesion.
Qin Yifei and Liu Zecheng initially believe they have an easy win, but are quickly proven wrong as Qiao Chen and Zhang Baiyang, despite their constant squabbling, demonstrate surprising power and teamwork, taking an early lead. On the adjacent court, Yu Qing's "golden duo," Chi Dayong and Tang Jiale, face a tough challenge. They struggle in the first game, falling behind as Guozi successfully exploits their weaknesses.
Chi Dayong, ever the composed player, advises Tang Jiale to remain calm, even as Tang Jiale shows signs of distraction and fatigue from the targeted attacks. Guan Yue, observing the initial scores, instructs his players to continue exploiting Yu Qing's vulnerabilities, confidently believing the matches are unfolding as he predicted.
