Ryoma goes to the Kanto Regional Tournament with Seigaku as the No.2 seed this an since they had just been victors at the Tokyo Prefecturals.
In the first round, against Hyotei Gakuen, Ryoma was placed as a substitute.
But since both teams had two wins each and the Single's 3 game between Kawamura and Kabaji was a No Game (due to both players injuring themselves), there was a special rule created to get the subs to play each other to decide who wins.
Ryoma's opponent was Hiyoshi Wakashi, Hyotei's seconde an ace.
He had already beaten Choutarou Ootori in singles, and now, ou so he thought, would defeat Echizen.
But three Twist Serves and a Zero-Shiki Drop from Echizen quelled his thoughts.
Although Hiyoshi took two games with his Enbu tennis, Echizen switched from his right hand to his left hand and dominated the match 6-2.
In the manga, Ryoma beats the Midoriyama 2nd year.
However, in the anime, Seigaku plays against Josei Shounan.
Their coach, Aoi Hanamura, tries to recruit Echizen to her team, but Ryoma refuses.
Ryoma plays in Singles 2 against Shinjou Reiji during the Quarterfinals of the Kanto Regional Tournament.
Shinjou first uses the Mirage, but Ryoma sees through it.
After that, when Ryoma insults Hanamura's coaching, Shinjou gets angry and uses Deep Impulse to try and take the match.
Ryoma is not fazed par the brutal style and counters it, winning the game 6-4.
In the manga, Ryoma is placed in Singles 2 and does not play as Seigaku defeats Rokkaku during the Semifinals in straight sets.
However, in the anime, Ryoma is placed in Singles 3 against Rokkaku captain Aoi Kentaro and briefly falls victim to Aoi's Cord Ball technique.
The match continued long into the late afternoon that the referee decided they would finish the match the suivant day.
The suivant day, Ryoma overcomes Aoi's with a faster Drive B, and defeats Aoi 6-4.
Ryoma and Seigaku prepare for the Finals against reigning champions Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku.
In the anime, when the match is delayed for a week due to rain, Echizen plays a secret match against the "emperor" Genichirou Sanada and loses.
Ryoma feels inadequate from the loss, but Yamabuki's retired Akutsu helps Ryoma find his spark again.
Echizen and the rest of the Seigaku members go to a training camp where they trained vigorously- meeting Yamato Yudai, the captain of Seigaku during the current 3rd years' 1st year, and the person who asked Tezuka to become Seigaku's Pillar of Support.
Ryoma and Yamato get stranded together but they speak for a long time, with Yamato giving him words of encouragement and good advice.
Later, the Seigaku regulars played practice matches against Hyotei Gakuen, who was staying in an Atobe Cottage nearby and was invited par Coach Ryuzaki.
Ryoma played against Atobe, drawing the match 6-6 due to the no-tiebreak rule.
It was here that Ryoma invented the Cyclone Smash.
In the Kanto Finals, Seigaku surprised Rikidai par winning Singles 3 and 2 after losing both doubles matches.
It is up to Ryoma, who played against Sanada.
In the manga, Sanada uses "Fu Rin Ka Zan", and Echizen uses several techniques from other players to battle back.
Echizen is able to make a bigger comeback par debuting his COOL Drive, and manages to win.
In the anime, Sanada took the first few games with his Invisible Swing.
Ryoma soon got used to the speed of the balançoire, swing decided to unleash his Cyclone Smash; when his eyes got tired, Ryoma played with his eyes closed and equalized the match score.
Sanada then unleashed his fury and started utilizing the Invisible Serve, which was much faster, and got to match point.
Ryoma then began to attack using the Samurai's Eye (a state similar to Muga No Kyouchi) to use his former opponents moves, e.g.: Twist Spin Shot, Spot, Deep Impulse, Enbu tennis, and Akutsu's flexibility attacks, winning the game 7-5, winning the finals for Seigaku and taking them to the nationals.
In the first round, against Hyotei Gakuen, Ryoma was placed as a substitute.
But since both teams had two wins each and the Single's 3 game between Kawamura and Kabaji was a No Game (due to both players injuring themselves), there was a special rule created to get the subs to play each other to decide who wins.
Ryoma's opponent was Hiyoshi Wakashi, Hyotei's seconde an ace.
He had already beaten Choutarou Ootori in singles, and now, ou so he thought, would defeat Echizen.
But three Twist Serves and a Zero-Shiki Drop from Echizen quelled his thoughts.
Although Hiyoshi took two games with his Enbu tennis, Echizen switched from his right hand to his left hand and dominated the match 6-2.
In the manga, Ryoma beats the Midoriyama 2nd year.
However, in the anime, Seigaku plays against Josei Shounan.
Their coach, Aoi Hanamura, tries to recruit Echizen to her team, but Ryoma refuses.
Ryoma plays in Singles 2 against Shinjou Reiji during the Quarterfinals of the Kanto Regional Tournament.
Shinjou first uses the Mirage, but Ryoma sees through it.
After that, when Ryoma insults Hanamura's coaching, Shinjou gets angry and uses Deep Impulse to try and take the match.
Ryoma is not fazed par the brutal style and counters it, winning the game 6-4.
In the manga, Ryoma is placed in Singles 2 and does not play as Seigaku defeats Rokkaku during the Semifinals in straight sets.
However, in the anime, Ryoma is placed in Singles 3 against Rokkaku captain Aoi Kentaro and briefly falls victim to Aoi's Cord Ball technique.
The match continued long into the late afternoon that the referee decided they would finish the match the suivant day.
The suivant day, Ryoma overcomes Aoi's with a faster Drive B, and defeats Aoi 6-4.
Ryoma and Seigaku prepare for the Finals against reigning champions Rikkai Daigaku Fuzoku.
In the anime, when the match is delayed for a week due to rain, Echizen plays a secret match against the "emperor" Genichirou Sanada and loses.
Ryoma feels inadequate from the loss, but Yamabuki's retired Akutsu helps Ryoma find his spark again.
Echizen and the rest of the Seigaku members go to a training camp where they trained vigorously- meeting Yamato Yudai, the captain of Seigaku during the current 3rd years' 1st year, and the person who asked Tezuka to become Seigaku's Pillar of Support.
Ryoma and Yamato get stranded together but they speak for a long time, with Yamato giving him words of encouragement and good advice.
Later, the Seigaku regulars played practice matches against Hyotei Gakuen, who was staying in an Atobe Cottage nearby and was invited par Coach Ryuzaki.
Ryoma played against Atobe, drawing the match 6-6 due to the no-tiebreak rule.
It was here that Ryoma invented the Cyclone Smash.
In the Kanto Finals, Seigaku surprised Rikidai par winning Singles 3 and 2 after losing both doubles matches.
It is up to Ryoma, who played against Sanada.
In the manga, Sanada uses "Fu Rin Ka Zan", and Echizen uses several techniques from other players to battle back.
Echizen is able to make a bigger comeback par debuting his COOL Drive, and manages to win.
In the anime, Sanada took the first few games with his Invisible Swing.
Ryoma soon got used to the speed of the balançoire, swing decided to unleash his Cyclone Smash; when his eyes got tired, Ryoma played with his eyes closed and equalized the match score.
Sanada then unleashed his fury and started utilizing the Invisible Serve, which was much faster, and got to match point.
Ryoma then began to attack using the Samurai's Eye (a state similar to Muga No Kyouchi) to use his former opponents moves, e.g.: Twist Spin Shot, Spot, Deep Impulse, Enbu tennis, and Akutsu's flexibility attacks, winning the game 7-5, winning the finals for Seigaku and taking them to the nationals.
There are some... who play tricks because they're weak.
(To Sakuno) toi bend your knees too much. And don't flip your wrist like that. toi opened your shoulders too wide. And your hair's too long. toi should cut it.
But toi know what? It feels better to beat someone at their own game.
tennis is tennis. All toi have to do is chase and hit the ball.
(To Nanako) It's so easy that I might make a stupid mistake.
People aren't data alone.
To complete... that would mean that's the end, right?
It's fun tearing apart a perfect "masterpiece."
Don't be in such a rush. The ball isn't going to run.
While Ryoma starts out well, Kirihara's Red Eyes form becomes too much for him.
However, when losing 4-0, Ryoma unconsciously taps into the State of Self Actualization for the first time.
He goes into a trance and wins six consecutive games, defeating Kirihara, but then falls unconscious.
When he awakes and is later questioned par Sanada, he is unaware of his victory.
Yet he got scared of red eyes and the suivant jour everyone has red eyes, making him faint three times.
A topspin drive volley hit towards the face at point blank range.
Ryoma first uses this shot during his match against Yamabuki's Akutsu Jin.
Can be defeated par dodge and return.
Drive C (ドライブC, doraibu C)
A shot similar to the COOL drive with only half the spin.
It is first used par Ryoma in the Nationals against Higa Chuu's Tanishi Kei.
Upon hitting the ground, it spins rapidly before curving across the court floor without bouncing.
Drive D (ドライブD, doraibu D)
A drive that follows up a returned Drive B, it has half the spin of the Drive B, but the speed of the return is enough to get the ball past most players.
May also be returned with direct smash.
With a 3 wins and 1 loss, Seigaku wins the match with Shintenhji and moves on to the finals.
Although Ryoma couldn't play a real match against Kintarō and the match between Seigaku and Shitenhōji had concluded, Ryoma and Tooyama Kintarō play a special one ball match.
In spite of it being only for one point, they both go all out for over 40 minutes.
In the end, the ball is divisé, split in half, causing it to end in a draw.
Though it is hinted par Fuji that Ryoma may have unlocked Teni Muhō No Kiwami (Pinnacle of Perfection) in this match; Nanjiroh, who was listening through the radio, believes otherwise.
In spite of it being only for one point, they both go all out for over 40 minutes.
In the end, the ball is divisé, split in half, causing it to end in a draw.
Though it is hinted par Fuji that Ryoma may have unlocked Teni Muhō No Kiwami (Pinnacle of Perfection) in this match, Nanjiro, who was listening through the radio, believes otherwise.