Tennis stopped being tennis three seasons ago. Now it's a showcase for increasingly unhinged supernatural abilities, and the show commits to every single one like it's the most natural thing in the world. Matches move so fast and escalate so hard that by the semifinal, you're not watching sport anymore, you're watching a fever dream where the ball itself might develop a personality. Franchise veterans know exactly what they signed up for, and this delivers it with the comedic timing of a show that has never once apologized for its own absurdity.

Ryoma prepares for the semifinals of the U-17 World Cup, where only four strong teams remain after a hard-fought quarterfinal round. Team Japan's path to glory runs through Germany, the tournament's champion nine times over, whose lineup is headed by professional player Jurgen Borisovich Volk. With the crowd and the momentum both behind the Germans, Japan is the underdog. Looking to make up for an earlier defeat, Japan fields seven top players, captain Houou Byoudouin among them. A win would send the country to the finals for the first time ever, and the pressure builds with every step into unfamiliar ground. This sports series mixes intense tennis action with comedy.