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 door Sanada, he is unaware of his victory.
Yet he got scared of red eyes and the volgende dag 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 door 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 door 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 spleet, split in half, causing it to end in a draw.
Though it is hinted door 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 spleet, split in half, causing it to end in a draw.
Though it is hinted door 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.
He is greatly admired door his classmates (although he falls asleep in his English classes).
Sport other than tennis that he is also skilled in is tafel, tabel Tennis (Tennis vs Ping Pong), bowling (Prince of Bowling), and billiards (The Prince of Billiards).
His abilities in strand volleyball, however, may be questioned.
When the Seigaku students go to the strand during the anime series, Ryoma plays well when paired with Kaidoh (Cheap Housing strand Volleyball).
However, he plays quite poorly in the OVA when paired with Tezuka.
In the same event in the manga, Ryoma, paired with Rokkaku's Kentaro Aoi, plays decently only after activating Muga no Kyōchi.
It is possible however, that the seconde time, they were using a strand ball, which was too light for any tennis related moves.