In Mazhou, cheating was a disgrace. The moment a match-fixing scandal was exposed, one would be permanently banned from Mazhou. Want to continue playing? Sure, play as you like in other continents, but Mazhou didn't welcome you. In serious cases, you might even be banned from entering the country.
Many experts had made predictions about the outcome of this gold medal match, but no one could say for sure which side had a higher probability of winning. The following match also confirmed this.
The gold medal match lasted three days. On average, they played for more than five hours a day. The total duration was more than 10 hours, breaking the Spartacus Cup's all-time record.
This was a battle of the pinnacle that didn't involve any underhandedness. Both athletes displayed their superb competitive conditions. They competed in technique, tactics, stamina, and mental state, illustrating what a competition was.
"They really gave it their all!" Yin An sighed.
When he was free, he would play tennis with his friends. Playing for half an hour was already unbearable, let alone five hours!
"Indeed, on the arena, these two are very admirable athletes," Fang Zhao said.
Fans cheered their idols crazily. Even people who weren't interested in these two started to pay attention to this match.
You could dislike them, but you couldn't not respect them.
The media also focused their cameras on the arena.
Watching this match that seemed to be burning their lives, Fang Zhao felt that these two's announcement of retirement before the match was probably true. It wasn't something the media had said out of anger. These two hadn't given themselves the option to retreat. If they'd retreated a little, they wouldn't have been able to fight to this extent.
On the third day, both sides played for more than seven hours before a victor was decided.
The moment the match ended, veteran Du Moer seemed to forget his physical exhaustion as he watched the score displayed on the big screen. He roared and ran a lap around the arena, his face filled with tears of excitement.
In contrast was the silent Mitisy.
Mitisy clutched his racket and lay on the grass, his other hand covering his eyes. After a while, he lowered his arm. His reddened eyes were filled with tears as he gazed quietly at the sky.
Mitisy got up and hugged Du Moer, who had run over. He bowed, waved, and raised both arms to clap for himself, for his opponent, and for all the spectators watching this match. He had done his best. He had nothing to complain about this result.
On the court, a sad rock song with a sense of farewell played. The lead singer's rough and slightly hoarse voice expressed his love and helplessness for this competition.
At this moment, many of the audience came back to their senses.
"Du Moer has no regrets in retiring. After all, he has already entered a period of decline. This explosion has exhausted the last of his strength. His body probably won't be able to recover for another five years. But Mitisy is different. Is he really going to retire? "
"No way! Mitisy is still so young. He's only thirty-six this year. "
For the people of the New Era, whose lifespan had doubled, 36 years old was considered young.
"Right now is the peak of Mitisy's career. It's the true golden age. Even if he loses this match, there will still be opportunities in the future. After all, Mitisy is so young. He can play for another 40 years."
Let's wait and see what Mitisy's club has to say. They won't let go of a cash cow like Mitisy. Even without the Spartacus Cup gold medal, Mitisy has won many championships in other important competitions. With three consecutive days of highly anticipated gold medal matches, Mitisy's popularity will only increase. "
Mitisy's retirement aside, just this gold medal match alone was worth it to the spectators for a ticket to watch three days of competition! How satisfying!
For the media, there were plenty of things to write about. It was even more worth it!
"The Prince of Tennis lost again in the finals!"
"The Prince didn't win again today!"
"Another brand terminates its partnership with Mitisy. The No.2 loses another endorsement deal!"
In the competitive continent of Maersizhou, all the major brands preferred to choose champions. Although Mitisy had won many championships in other competitions, the Spartacus Cup was an undeniable flaw. Coupled with the media's coverage, it was like a huge black mark on him that couldn't be washed away. The media seized on this point to attack him.
After the award ceremony, while everyone was discussing whether Mitisy would really retire, Mitisy's club released news of his retirement at a press conference.
"He's really retiring?"
"I can't figure it out. I really can't figure it out. Isn't it just a Spartacus Cup gold medal? He'll just get it in the future. Mitisy has only been playing for 20 years. "
"Maybe he's been dealt a blow. After all, he's been a professional for 20 years. He's always been second in the Spartacus Cup. He's not weaker than anyone, and he fights hard."
"What can he do now that he's retired?"
"Coaches can also be suppressed. After all, it's hard to get rid of the" No.2 "label. What happens when a No.2 is taught by a No.2? Plus, he's young. Even if A-grade and above clubs hire him, they will lower his salary. It's not worth it. "
"If that's the case, he might as well join the entertainment circle."
Many athletes in Mazhou entered the entertainment circle after retiring. Given Mitisy's looks and popularity, the chances of him joining the entertainment circle were high.
Back in the hotel, Yin An watched the highlights of the match again and wiped his tears. "I want to compose a song for them! Sigh, Little Mi, what a pity! " Yin An rather liked Mitisy as a tennis player. The outcome of the match couldn't be blamed on anyone else. Everyone had tried their best.
Seeing the online speculation about Mitisy's retirement, Yin An sought out Fang Zhao. "I saw a lot of people online saying that Mitisy will probably enter the entertainment circle after retiring. Junior, you understand the entertainment circle. See if you can help him. This guy is really pitiful. He lost his endorsement deal, lost his gold medal, and is being slandered online."
Fang Zhao thought about it and said, "I don't think he needs my help. Given his temperament, he has probably already thought of his future path. "
"Sigh, in any case, I'll help him if I can," Yin An said. He thought Fang Zhao was using it as an excuse to not help, but he suddenly remembered that Mo Lang and Carter might not allow Fang Zhao to get involved with the entertainment circle. He had wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back down.
Fang Zhao glanced at Yin An and explained, "No matter what the media says now, I feel that his future achievements won't be bad. As for the media that are taking advantage of this opportunity to stab him in the back, they will be slapped in the face."
Yin An didn't take Fang Zhao's words seriously and just sighed. He was a more emotional person. When he thought about Mitisy's performance on the court and the mocking comments online, he couldn't help but feel suffocated.
"Uncomfortable. I'll go back and compose a song to vent." Yin An sighed as he left.
Although Fang Zhao felt it was a pity for Mitisy, he didn't think that Mitisy had made an impulsive decision. He knew very well what he was doing.
That night, Mitisy's club held a press conference regarding his retirement.
The image of Mitisy crying on the court had already dominated many news headlines. Fans were heartbroken. Now, both fans and haters were paying close attention to this live broadcast of his retirement press conference. Many authoritative sports media could be seen on the screen.
On the screen, Mitisy's eyes were still red. As he spoke, he choked up a little. After adjusting his emotions, he continued speaking.
"… Looking back at my 20 years as a professional athlete, I actually don't have much resentment or resentment. I'm more grateful … In these 20 years, I never dared slack off. Even today, I can still stand here with my head held high and chest out. With my head lowered, I have firm steps, and my head raised, I have a clear direction … In these 20 years, I've experienced the charm of competition, but I've also experienced the cruelty of competition … Retirement wasn't an impulsive decision, nor was retirement a compromise. I have my own life and my own responsibilities. After retirement, no matter where I am, be it in the past, present, or future, I will never be negative … Thank you to the club and fans for your help and support these 20 years. Thank you to my coach. I'm very sorry that I wasn't able to help him win a Spartacus Cup championship …"
Beside him, the coach's eyes were red, and he sighed in his heart. During his speech, he told everyone about how difficult it had been for Mitisy.
"I still remember 20 years ago, that 16-year-old youngster came over alone with just a bag. He played in the club for 20 years … At the start of this year, he told me, 'Coach, this is my last chance.' He was under a lot of pressure. I don't know what he had been through, but he had always been very hardworking. In terms of ability, he didn't lose to any champion …"
Back then, Mitisy had been so dazzling. In his first year, he had charged into the top of the leaderboards. His handsome appearance and formidable ability had quickly made him one of the most popular sports stars in Mazhou. All sorts of endorsements had swarmed him.
After that, he had participated in all sorts of tournaments and open tournaments. He had also won many championships, except for the Spartacus Cup, where he had always placed second. Even when he had been assigned to the death group, he had fought his way out and ended up lying on the silver medalist's seat. It could be said that he had defeated every champion many times, but he just hadn't been able to win the Spartacus Cup gold medal!
Gradually, the number of brands that sought him out to endorse also decreased. There were innumerable people who made sarcastic remarks or made up jokes. As for whether those words were stabbing Mitisy's heart, they didn't care. As long as there was traffic, attention, and he could vent, that was enough.
Just like now, in the comments section of the live broadcast of his retirement press conference, fans and haters had already exchanged several rounds of gunfire.
Fans had watched Mitisy's retirement speech and the video clips, and they had long been sobbing uncontrollably. They felt so heartbroken that they couldn't breathe. They were also endlessly worried about Mitisy's life after retirement.
And the haters were still jabbing where it hurt.
"He doesn't allow others to say that he doesn't have the ability? Who is to blame if he can't win? That's why I say this is fate! "
"Who is to blame if he can't take it anymore and retires now? If he doesn't have a strong heart in the arena and can't take the pressure from the outside world, why would he come to the arena? "
"After he retires, he should settle down in the entertainment industry and save up some money to support himself in old age."
For people from Mazhou, only those who weren't doing well or had retired would go to the entertainment industry. In Mazhou, the most popular stars were undoubtedly the competition stars. What popular movie kings and actresses couldn't compare to the current popularity of the competition stars.
At the press conference, the media started asking questions after Mitisy and the others had finished speaking.
"What are your plans after retirement?"
"Will you enter the entertainment industry?"
"What kind of work will you be doing?"
"Will it be related to tennis?"
Mitisy replied, "I should move from the arena to behind the scenes."
When the reporters heard this, they got excited. His words had a lot of content.
"Are you planning to become your own boss and start a club?" a reporter asked.
Mitisy smiled sheepishly. "I don't think I've told everyone what my surname is."
The media: "???"
Even Mitisy's coach looked over suspiciously. Mitisy had taught Mitisy for so many years, but he had never mentioned his surname. It wasn't on his identification card, so no one had mentioned it. For many people, surnames weren't that important.
Mitisy coughed lightly. "My full name is Mitisy Mars."
The venue suddenly went silent.
The comments section of the live broadcast room went silent.
Fans, haters, the media, and everyone in the club: "…"
Say that again! What's your surname?!
The surname Mars was only used by that tyrannical family in Mazhou.
The coach's mouth was wide open as he froze on the spot. His eyes were dazed and his face was full of disbelief.
The media, which had been getting high on their mocking of Mitisy, trembled in fear.
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