The Prince of Tennis Episode 4 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
Lu Xia and Qiao Chen began to practice their doubles game. Tang Jiale and Chi Dayong, seasoned players who had formed a "golden pair" over two years despite initially being fierce rivals, taught them their unique rope-tying method. Tang Jiale had first partnered with Chi Dayong hoping to find his weakness, only to discover their incredible synergy.
They also shared the bitter memory of last year's match against Xingyao Middle School, where their coach, Qi Na, had controversially split them up, leading to their team's defeat and missing out on the championship. However, Lu Xia and Qiao Chen's initial attempts with the ropes were clumsy, resulting in them getting tangled together.
Despite this early training setback, their daily lives showed a different kind of shared understanding; for instance, they tacitly avoided eating the "dark cuisine" prepared by Lu Xia's father, Lu Xiangqian, even while lacking any real chemistry on the court. As the National High School League commenced, Yuqing Tennis Team faced off against Yuhang Tennis Team.
Mu Siyang was sidelined due to a hand injury, with Qi Na's decision leading many to believe he was preserving his strength for the next season. The unpolished coordination of Lu Xia and Qiao Chen in their doubles match surprised everyone, while Yuhang's Zhong Buchuan and Wu Quan scoffed at their opponents, confidently proclaiming themselves "geniuses" destined to quickly defeat Yuqing Middle School. However, their overconfidence led to early errors, allowing Lu Xia and Qiao Chen to score.
Lu Xia and Qiao Chen then began to use strange shouts as a secret signal to each other, a tactic they called the "Hum-Ha" strategy, which initially proved effective in surprising their opponents. As the match progressed, Zhong Buchuan and Wu Quan quickly deciphered Lu Xia and Qiao Chen's signals, exploiting their weaknesses and winning more points. From the sidelines, Tang Jiale and Chi Dayong cringed in embarrassment, hoping no one would realize these struggling players had learned from them.
Frustration mounted between Lu Xia and Qiao Chen, leading to mutual blame and further undermining their teamwork. At halftime, Qi Na sternly reprimanded the two, much to the amusement of Zhong Buchuan and Wu Quan, who continued to mock them. However, the taunts from their rivals spurred Lu Xia and Qiao Chen, who resolved to fight back. Qiao Chen, spotting Qi Ying's friend Xingzi cheering from the stands, felt an even stronger urge to win.
But his focus wavered when he saw Xingzi, leading to a mis-hit that struck Lu Xia, who then accidentally hit Qiao Chen back. Despite the blunders, Lu Xia and Qiao Chen devised an unconventional strategy: they divided the court in half, each defending their own territory. This "singles-within-doubles" approach dramatically reduced their errors while exposing Yuhang's weaknesses. Everyone watched in admiration as Lu Xia and Qiao Chen, against all odds, won the match with their unorthodox play.
Qi Na, though pleased with the victory, felt a mix of helplessness and embarrassment as a coach given their rule-bending method. As punishment, she gently pinched their faces and made them squat by the court to watch the rest of the matches, leading Lu Xia and Qiao Chen to jokingly complain they'd never play doubles again.
In the subsequent matches, Yuqing Middle School, with players like Zhang Baiyang whose powerful shout could disorient opponents and the skilled Zhuo Zhi, continued to dominate, winning every game and leaving Yuhang Middle School with no room to retaliate.
