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

Chapter 66 A Giant Company That Only Wants to Scratch Lottery Tickets
What? You're talking about the year-end finals? What does that have to do with you?
What are you kidding!
This is the true inner thought of the several leaders from the Guangdong Provincial Sports Bureau at this moment.

They had considered all the possible reasons why Meng Hao might decline to participate in the National Games, but they never expected him to use "participating in the year-end finals" as a reason.

Young man, you're really something else... You're a real talent!
The group looked at each other, unsure how to respond.

If he can really make it to the ATP Finals, then it's normal for him to decline the National Games.

After all, for a professional tennis player, being able to participate in the "WTA Finals" is an honor in itself.

This is similar to how Yao Ming, who wanted to play in the NBA, couldn't help Shanghai compete in the National Games.

If the Shanghai Sports Bureau insists on bringing Yao Ming back, they will be relentlessly criticized by the media and fans across the country.

"Xiao Meng, getting into the year-end finals isn't that easy!" the leader said earnestly. "It seems that so far, no Asian male player has ever made it to the year-end finals!"

This level of difficulty is probably even harder than an Asian basketball player making it into the NBA All-Star Game.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" These words could only roar in their hearts, but they were too embarrassed to say them out loud.

Meng Hao chuckled and added, "I won't help Guangdong Province in the National Games, nor will I help other provinces and cities. So, without me, the competition between men's tennis teams from different provinces and cities will still be fair."

You really dare to say that, kid!

Meng Hao waved goodbye to everyone and got into the taxi.

This is the life of a professional tennis player: leaving home time and time again to participate in competitions, and then embarking on the journey back home.

"They probably don't believe I can make it to the year-end finals, right? But I know I can do it!" Meng Hao muttered to himself.

……

"Meng Hao, you've made history for Chinese men's tennis, aren't you going to share it with us classmates?"

"Looks like you, our great star, are starting to distance yourself from us! Waaah, I'm so sad."

"Tell me, can you win a tournament championship for the school before you graduate high school next year?"

This time, Meng Hao really forgot to share the championship with his classmates.

When he opened the class's QQ group on his phone, many classmates were discussing topics related to him.

After all, things are different now.

In the past, CCTV Sports News has reported on Meng Hao, but only for a few seconds, which was unlikely to cause much of a stir.

After all, as the national channel, CCTV5 has an obligation to "cover all sports equally" and report on all sports.

There are far too many athletes who have appeared on CCTV, even many world champions, but how many of them can truly be remembered and generate discussion?

But this time it's definitely different.

Although tennis is not as popular as football or basketball, it is still a relatively popular sport.

CCTV5 characterized Meng Hao's championship victory as a historic achievement for Chinese men's tennis.

This is already a very high rating!
That's why Meng Hao's classmates were so shocked.

"Dear students, if you have watched the CCTV news report carefully, you should be able to understand my thoughts."

"It's just a challenge tournament championship, nothing to brag about!"

"I'm not being modest! I'll definitely feel a little proud when I win a tour title."

After sending those lines, Meng Hao added, "You guys are almost in your final year of high school, have you done your practice tests? That's what you should be doing!" "Damn, you're so annoying!"

"The thought of our hellish senior year of high school coming up while you can travel all over the world playing tennis is just so frustrating!"

……

On his way back, Meng Hao finally received calls from Nike and Adidas.

They want to try their luck at scratching lottery tickets again.

To be precise, the sponsorship standards for tennis players by both Nike and Adidas have changed a lot compared to before.

First of all, tennis is a winner-takes-all sport.

In today's professional tennis world, the Big Three have dominated for far too long, and Murray, who is also a near-Big Three, has consumed the remaining star power.

Stan Wawrinka, who had just won the Australian Open a few months earlier, is a late bloomer and his star has faded.

One after another, talented young people born in the 90s emerged, but they all ended up being brutally suppressed.

This has made these two giant companies extremely cautious when signing new talent.

First, Nike introduced a rule that for players whose world ranking is not in the top 100, Nike will only provide clothing, shoes and other equipment needed for the competition, and will no longer provide cash sponsorship.

Following closely behind, another giant company, Adidas, also introduced similar terms, making it more difficult to sign contracts.

Although Adidas didn't completely cut sponsorship amounts for young talents who weren't in the top 100, it significantly lowered the standards.

As a Chinese player, Meng Hao has a huge market behind him, but Nike and Adidas are only willing to make slight concessions.

For example, around 10 RMB per year, plus some clothing and shoes for Meng Hao's competitions.

After all, if Meng Hao doesn't break into the top 100 and doesn't establish himself on the tour, he's really no different from other foreign players.

Unlike the league models of football and basketball, tennis's tour system is a free competition on a global scale.

Young Chinese football and basketball players can attract the attention of Nike and Adidas as long as they make a name for themselves in the Chinese Super League or CBA and deliver outstanding performances. But even if a tennis player becomes invincible in China, it's useless.

Tournaments and the four Grand Slams are the only stage where you can prove yourself and demonstrate your value.

"I have plenty of jerseys and shorts. I don't care whose brand I wear, as long as it's comfortable!"

Upon hearing the conditions from these two giant companies, Meng Hao decisively refused, "As for sneakers, I don't know how custom-made sneakers would be, but I've tried on all the tennis shoes in the store, and they don't feel very good!"

I'd rather buy my own sneakers!
"The racket is special, and we have a cooperative relationship, so I'm not an endorser. But as for the jerseys, shorts, and shoes, why should I choose them? It doesn't matter who I wear them from."

Sincerity? Meng Hao really couldn't detect much of it.

"What an ungrateful young man!" Nike and Adidas were also dissatisfied.

Many domestic players are eagerly awaiting their sponsorship, asking only for clothing and shoes, not for any monetary amount.

You little brat, you don't even know how to cherish such a great benefit!
Do you think getting into the top 100 is that easy? Besides, even if you do get into the top 100, how much of a splash can you make?

Both sides felt that the other was arrogant, and the first encounter ended unhappily.

……

(End of this chapter)