On the evening of 30/3, Phuc Huynh announced on his personal page his decision to withdraw from the tournament, even after the organizers had published the schedule. The player was slated to compete from the qualifying rounds, despite having won two PPA tournaments in 2025 and currently ranking 17th globally.

"For me, facing any opponent is a valuable opportunity to learn and improve myself," Phuc Huynh wrote. "However, I feel a lack of fairness and proper respect as I am the only player who won two PPA tournaments in 2025 yet still has to play qualifiers, while some athletes with no accumulated points are prioritized for direct entry into the main draw."

Phuc Huynh admitted that the decision was difficult, but he chose to withdraw to uphold values he believes are "best for Vietnamese pickleball." He also expressed hope that the professional organization of major pickleball tournaments in Vietnam would see substantial improvements.

Pickleball player Phuc Huynh has won many tournaments, including PPA Tour Asia 2025 events in TP HCM and Da Nang. *Photo: FBNV*

The PPA Tour Asia, a leading professional pickleball tournament system in Asia, recently introduced a new rule. This regulation requires players within the top 50 to sign a contract with the tour if they wish to continue competing. This initiative aims to strengthen PPA's professional ecosystem, particularly after its closer integration with Major League Pickleball. However, many Asian players, including Vietnamese athletes, have yet to sign this contract.

Signing the contract obligates players to prioritize the tour's schedule and restricts their participation in tournaments outside the PPA system. According to VnExpress's findings, Phuc Huynh has not signed the contract because he aims to develop his brand across Asia and participate in diverse tournament systems.

"I am slightly hesitant about the tour's exclusive regulations," he stated. "At a time when our country's pickleball movement needs connection and open exchange, restricting athletes to playing only one tournament system inadvertently creates unnecessary barriers."

A previous case involving player Quang Duong highlights these concerns. Quang Duong had signed a contract with the PPA system and competed in Major League Pickleball. However, the US Pickleball Association (UPA) later terminated his professional contract and fined him USD 50,000, removing him from the US pickleball system. This action was taken because he violated an exclusive commercial contract by failing to participate in a UPA tournament without prior notice. Quang Duong's experience has made Vietnamese players more cautious about signing exclusive contracts.

Phuc Huynh, whose birth name is Huynh Thien Phuc, was born in 2000. The Vietnamese-origin athlete moved to the US at three years old and subsequently became a professional pickleball player. He was the champion of the Asian Open pickleball tournament in 2024 and the Asian runner-up in 2025. Last year, Phuc Huynh also secured victories in two PPA Tour Asia 2025 events held in TP HCM and Da Nang.

The PPA Asia 1000 - MB Hanoi Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from 1-5/4 at My Dinh Athletics Palace. This event is set to feature the largest gathering of PPA Pro players ever seen in Asia. It marks the third time the PPA Tour Asia has been held in Vietnam, following two successful tournaments in TP HCM and Da Nang last year.

For 2026, the PPA Tour Asia plans to organize 10 tournaments, commencing in Hanoi before moving to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Macao, China.