For the first time, Vietnam has two representatives competing in the Pro men's singles semifinals at a PPA Tour Asia event. This achievement underscores the significant progress of Vietnamese pickleball on the global professional stage.

After challenging earlier matches against Pham Xuan Vu in the round of 32 and Christian Alshon in the round of 16, Ly Hoang Nam found his quarterfinal more straightforward. The former Vietnamese number one tennis player lost only three points in his two-set victory over world number 32 Tama Shimabukuro, with scores of 11-3, 11-0. This dominant win against the Japanese prodigy showcased one of Hoang Nam's most impressive performances in the PPA Tour Asia, highlighting his strong net play and flexible ball control from the baseline. In the semifinals, the player from Tay Ninh will face American opponent Dylan Frazier.

Ly Hoang Nam during his victory over Shimabukuro, on the Championship court at My Dinh Athletics Palace, Hanoi on 3/4. Photo: *Giang Huy*

The other semifinal pairing features Truong Vinh Hien against former world number one Frederico Staksrud from Argentina. In his quarterfinal, Vinh Hien required medical assistance and played with a bandaged thigh, yet still secured a decisive 11-4, 11-2 victory over Mitchell Hargreaves with his fast, varied playing style. Meanwhile, Staksrud endured a challenging three-set battle against Hong Kit Wong (Hong Kong - China) in the final match for a semifinal spot.

The PPA Asia 1000 - Hanoi Cup 2026 is held from 1 to 5/4 at My Dinh Athletics Palace. This edition has attracted the largest number of PPA Pro players ever seen in Asia. This marks the third time the PPA Tour Asia has been hosted in Vietnam, following events in TP HCM and Da Nang last year. The tournament semifinals will take place tomorrow, 4/4.

The total prize money for the Hanoi Cup is approximately 300,000 USD. The singles champion will receive 4,500 USD, while the doubles champions will earn 7,500 USD. Athletes who sign a PPA Pro contract will receive an additional 33-100% bonus on their prize money.

The year 2026 marks the first time the PPA Tour Asia has unified its ranking points system with the Carvana PPA Tour. Athletes competing in the Hanoi Cup 2026 will earn direct points towards the world rankings. The champion receives 1,000 points, the runner-up 800 points, third place 400 points, and fourth place 200 points. Athletes reaching the quarterfinals, round of 16, and round of 32 will receive 100, 50, and 25 points respectively.

By Vy Anh