The Prince of Tennis Episode 9 Recap
> The Prince of Tennis Recap
Lu Xia's father, Lu Xiangqian, accepted an interview with Xiao Sha, reminiscing about his youthful days and the admiration he received. Meanwhile, on the tennis court, Lu Xia was engaged in a match with Mu Siyang. Mu Siyang's incredible speed was a significant advantage, and while Lu Xia was slightly outmatched, he refused to give up. Though confidence was commendable, Lu Xia was still several years younger than Mu Siyang, who was Yuqing Middle School's top player.
Ultimately, Lu Xia lost. Mu Siyang questioned Lu Xia's true motivation for playing tennis. Lu Xia stated his goal was to defeat a specific person. Mu Siyang pressed further, asking what came after that victory, leaving Lu Xia without an answer, as he hadn't considered it. The next ball came fiercely, and after much deliberation, Mu Siyang deployed a powerful "zero-degree slice," a move that put significant strain on his existing injury.
The match concluded with Mu Siyang as the victor, yet he harbored no joy. With only two days left until the city preliminaries, training continued as usual, but Lu Xia and Mu Siyang were still absent from the court. Mu Siyang was at the hospital for a re-examination, where it was confirmed his injury had worsened considerably. This urgent situation fueled his desire to quickly nurture Lu Xia, grooming him as his successor.
Mu Siyang advised Lu Xia to break free from the constraints of the previous generation and develop his own unique tennis style. He later explained to his doctor that their ultimate goal in tennis wasn't merely to defeat individuals or become certain types of players, but to cultivate a new generation of tennis players, making his personal sacrifice worthwhile. Xiao Sha presented her interview with Lu Xiangqian to her editor, who was unimpressed, finding it dull.
Elsewhere, Zhuo Yu and Coach Guan Yue of Guozi Middle School were researching Lu Xia online. Zhuo Yu specifically aimed to defeat Yuqing's Zhuo Zhi, and Lu Xia's rising reputation naturally drew their attention. Lu Xiangqian, witnessing Lu Xia's dejection after losing to Mu Siyang, spent time playing with him, allowing him to vent. The day of the city preliminaries arrived. Lu Xia, having overslept due to his alarm not ringing, belatedly claimed he was delayed helping a pregnant woman.
The Yuqing players had arrived early, but Lu Xia was nowhere to be seen, risking disqualification. Mu Siyang managed to contact Lu Xia, who insisted he had left home early. Given the time constraints, the team had no choice but to enter the venue, with A Mu, who was similar in build to Lu Xia, attempting to impersonate him to get through registration. A Mu tried to blend in, hoping his deception wouldn't be discovered.
However, Huang Jing and Ma Xiuwen spotted A Mu, initially mistaking him for Lu Xia. Upon realizing their mistake, Huang Jing encouraged A Mu to continue the impersonation in a crowded area. Unfortunately, A Mu quickly got into trouble by criticizing someone while posing as Lu Xia. The offended party demanded a match against "Lu Xia." Just as A Mu found himself in a predicament, Lu Xia finally arrived.
Taking on A Mu's identity, Lu Xia quickly dispatched his opponent, once again bringing fame to Yuqing. Despite Lu Xia's belated arrival, Mu Siyang was furious about his tardiness, emphasizing the importance of punctuality and telling Lu Xia to warm up and not play in the initial matches. The competition soon commenced with Mu Siyang taking the court first.
His formidable reputation alone was enough to intimidate many opponents, some even regarding it an honor to lose to him, and he secured a decisive 6-0 victory. Next, Zhuo Zhi and He Xinglong faced Jinqiu Middle School in a doubles match. Unbeknownst to them, Coach Guan Yue had secretly provided Jinqiu Middle School's captain with detailed information about Yuqing's playing styles. This insider knowledge initially caught Zhuo Zhi and He Xinglong off guard, putting them in a precarious position.
Despite the initial difficulty, their superior skill ultimately prevailed, and they secured the win. Later, in another doubles match, Tang Jiale and Chi Dayong also faced difficulties due to Guan Yue's interference, eventually winning 6-1 instead of a clean 6-0. During a halftime break, Lu Xia encountered Qi Ying, who noticed the wristband she had given him proudly displayed on his wrist, filling her heart with warmth.
Meanwhile, Yan Zhiming met with Guan Yue, who exuded confidence about his school's team being destined for victory. Guan Yue detailed his strategic plan for Guozi Middle School to eventually face Yuqing Middle School, and the current match results perfectly aligned with his predictions. Lu Xia won his match, securing another victory for Yuqing. After the matches concluded, Qiao Chen tried to persuade Lu Xia to watch Yufeng Middle School's match, but Lu Xia showed no interest.
