Now that I've been reborn, I have to play tennis!

Chapter 27: A Polite Refusal of the Provincial Team!

After receiving a somewhat simple trophy, Meng Hao was told that he needed to give a "victory speech".

He had never given a speech in front of so many people before, from childhood to adulthood.

What should we say?
"We don't need to speak English, right?" Meng Hao asked to confirm.

"Need not!"

Generally, only ATP Tour level competitions require English to be spoken at the awards ceremony.

Other tournaments, such as higher-level ATP Challenger tournaments, do not have specific requirements.

"First of all, I'm very happy to have won this championship!"

"This trophy... uh, it's quite unique!" Meng Hao said slowly, looking at the simple trophy. "I'd be even happier if there was prize money for this competition! Okay, just kidding!"

However, how many truths are spoken in the form of jokes?

The organizers, who had been all smiles, suddenly stopped smiling, stood there stunned, and looked extremely embarrassed.

Hey kid, we let you speak so you can thank the organizers!

Meng Hao really didn't want to thank the organizers for arranging a seeded player for him in the first round, but considering that he still had to rely on them to send wildcards to participate in professional matches, he could only reluctantly express his gratitude.

"Ningzhou is a beautiful city, and I hope to host more tennis tournaments in the future."

"Thank you to all the fans in the stadium for your support; that's what makes playing at home so meaningful!"

He is still too insignificant now. Although he has made up his mind not to join the system and to keep his distance, he still has to say some official platitudes.

After finishing his speech, Meng Hao posed for a group photo with a group of staff members, and then carried the simple trophy to pack his belongings.

At this moment, Shen Dongguo walked over and greeted him, "Meng Hao, come and get acquainted. This is Wang Yong, the coach of the Zhejiang Provincial Tennis Team!"

The other party had inquired about Meng Hao's background beforehand and knew that he knew Shen Dongguo, a volunteer.

Before the final, Meng Hao declined the offer under the pretext of preparing for the competition. Now that the final is over, he has no reason to refuse.

"Hello, Coach Wang!" Meng Hao greeted him politely, then feigned ignorance, asking, "What can I do for you?"

Wang Yong began with polite congratulations before getting to the point: "Zhejiang Province is vigorously developing tennis, and the Provincial Sports Bureau is providing strong support. Would this student be willing to join our provincial team?"

This person is very young, only 17 years old. He won the championship in his first youth competition and even defeated a player who was ranked in the top 20 in the world among junior players.

He has a high football IQ and enormous potential!

Young man, our provincial team's future gold and silver medal hopes at the National Games depend on you!
To his surprise, Meng Hao refused: "Thank you, but I'm not suitable for the provincial team!"

"Huh? Why is that?" Wang Yong was also very surprised that Meng Hao would refuse. "If you join the provincial team, you won't have to bear the cost of your training and competitions yourself, which will save you a lot of money."

"Don't be fooled by the large number of individual vendors at the competition; they just haven't had a chance to be selected for the provincial team!"

That's true. The initial cost of learning tennis is indeed very high, which is a huge burden for most families, and there is no financial return.

Especially during the crucial years when teenagers transition to a professional career, economic pressure can increase dramatically.

Unless a family is extremely wealthy, most families simply cannot afford it, and having the provincial team provide a safety net is a very good solution.

If Meng Hao agrees, not only will his household registration be transferred immediately from Donghai City, a third-tier city, to Hangzhou, the provincial capital, but he will also have a wide range of choices among key universities in Zhejiang Province.

Getting into the provincial team isn't easy either!
So many people are desperate to get in! "Young man, why don't you ask your parents what they think?" Wang Yong felt that Meng Hao was still too young and immature, and that this matter needed to be handled by an adult.

He felt that the other party's parents would definitely not be able to refuse this offer.

Meng Hao smiled and shook his head, saying, "Thank you for your kind offer, Coach! I know there are many benefits to joining the provincial team, but I'll play as an individual player for now."

"Tennis is a solitary sport, and I enjoy that solitude!"

Coach Wang was a rough man, and when he heard Meng Hao speaking in such a refined manner, he just pursed his lips and didn't know what to say.

"Once you miss this opportunity, you'll never get another one! I hope you won't regret it later!" He left with these words, looking dejected.

Shen Dongguo said with a surprised look, "I didn't expect you to refuse. I always wanted to join the provincial team but never had the chance! I don't know what to say to you!"

Meng Hao smiled dismissively: "It's not suitable, and I don't think it's necessary for me to join the provincial team!"

He mainly felt that his current performance was too ordinary, and he had no leverage to negotiate.

The meager annual subsidy is a drop in the bucket, and there are frequent training camps and participation in various competitions, restricting freedom.

More importantly, is the provincial team coach reliable?

It might disrupt his training plan and development progress!

But Meng Hao couldn't say these things out loud!

Shen Dongguo, however, wore an exaggerated expression: "What, you still want to go further? Provincial teams usually only recruit newcomers under the age of 16. Older players don't have much potential for development!"

"You're only being given an exception because you won the championship!"

He looked heartbroken.

The older you get, the less potential you have!
When you get older, what will people need you for?

Meng Hao smiled faintly and didn't explain anything.

That's true in theory, but that's only if one's own strength can no longer be improved.

If I could reach the ATP Tour level, any provincial team would be waving their checks and vying for me!
Age is never a problem!
What's the most valuable thing in the 21st century? Talent!

Especially in men's tennis, talent is absolutely scarce and a non-renewable resource!
Meng Hao suddenly remembered something and laughed, "Brother Dong, I also got a wildcard, so I can participate in the Kunming Open at the end of the month! That's a real professional tournament!"

"Don't be too happy yet!" Shen Dongguo shook his head upon hearing this. "This wildcard is meaningless; it's just symbolic!"

"That's clay court, you know? And the 25K level is too high! You'll definitely be eliminated in the first round. Although there's prize money, it won't cover your travel expenses!"

"Kunming is too far away. I think you should give up and not go!"

"..." Meng Hao was speechless for a moment, "Does this competition include food and accommodation?"

"This one is wrapped."

That's enough!

Red soil is great! We have to work on red soil! That's what we need to work on!
Meng Hao participated in this competition not because he wanted the championship, but because he wanted the wildcard!
Shen Dongguo sent a message to his cousin Shen Rongyu: "Good news, your classmate won the championship! Bad news, he stupidly rejected the provincial team's invitation!"

……

(End of this chapter)