At a press conference on 20/7 in Hanoi, Duong Duy Duc shared his journey of guiding his son from a novice to a top pickleball player. He emphasized his desire for Quang Duong and his younger brother, Bao Duong, to progress steadily, participating in tournaments worldwide, including Asia and Vietnam.

"Playing in the US or not is the same, the three of us, father and sons, will still practice together," Duc stated when asked about his son's recent removal from the US professional pickleball rankings due to a contract violation with the US Pickleball Association (UPA).

Pickleball athlete Quang Duong with products from a brand he collaborates with. Photo: Wika

According to Duc, Quang Duong has the potential to defeat any opponent after completing upcoming training sessions. He added, "We will update Quang Duong's schedule soon. Vietnamese pickleball is rapidly developing, perhaps only at 5% or 10% of its potential. The skill level of Vietnamese athletes is increasing, and we could become a pickleball powerhouse."

Last week, Quang Duong's name was removed from the PPA Rankings despite holding the 6th position in men's singles. According to the UPA, the Vietnamese-American player breached an exclusive commercial contract by failing to attend their tournament without prior notification. Quang Duong was absent from the Major League Pickleball (MLP) tournament in Grand Rapids, Michigan, from 9 to 13/7 but appeared at an event in Khanh Hoa on 12/7.

Duc explained that he had informed the UPA about his son's injury and inability to participate in the MLP. Consequently, he and Quang Duong returned to Vietnam with their family to attend some pickleball events. Quang Duong's lawyer will work with the UPA to clarify the situation.

Duong Thien Quang, born in 2006 in Manhattan Beach (California, USA), to Vietnamese parents, began playing pickleball in 2020 after initially trying tennis and table tennis. His father, a former table tennis athlete, encouraged him to explore various racket sports. At 19, he achieved a world ranking of 4 at the end of 2024, becoming the youngest player in the top 20. In the summer of 2024, Quang Duong won the world championship at the IHG Briston Open 2024 and upset world number 1 Ben Johns at the Hyundai Masters the same year.

Vy Anh