Federico Staksrud, the world's number two pickleball player, has challenged Vietnamese athletes Ly Hoang Nam and Truong Vinh Hien to compete in the US to understand their true potential. His comments came after his performance at the PPA Hanoi Cup, where he lost 1-2 to Vinh Hien in the men's singles semifinals and subsequently lost the bronze medal match on 5/4. Vinh Hien advanced to the final, where he was defeated 0-2 by fellow countryman Hoang Nam, who claimed the championship.

"Congratulations to Vinh Hien, but that's just one win," Staksrud stated regarding the player who defeated him. "I am still world number two, and I don't know what his ranking is." He emphasized that winning an event on home soil does not fully reflect a player's true skill. Staksrud maintained his world number two ranking despite finishing fourth at the PPA Tour Hanoi.

Staksrud on the final day of the PPA Hanoi Cup, at My Dinh Athletics Palace, Hanoi on 5/4. *Photo: Giang Huy*

The PPA Hanoi Cup significantly impacted the rankings of the Vietnamese players. Vinh Hien climbed to world number 22 following his runner-up finish, while Hoang Nam rose to world number 17 after securing the championship, placing him just one spot behind Phuc Huynh.

"Vinh Hien and Hoang Nam are good players, but they have a long way to go," Staksrud added. "They haven't even competed in any tournaments in the US. Only when these two players do that will we know their true level. Currently, they only play in familiar conditions, yet they still faced difficulties. They need to go to PPA US; only then will we see what they can achieve."

Staksrud, born in 1996 and hailing from Argentina, was one of the most anticipated stars at the PPA Hanoi Cup 2026. He competed in all three events: men's singles, men's doubles, and mixed doubles. He secured a silver medal in men's doubles, partnering with Hayden Patriquin, but was eliminated in the mixed doubles quarterfinals and finished fourth in men's singles. Staksrud acknowledged the pressure of his high ranking: "When you win a lot and have a high ranking, more is expected of you. People expect me to win, but sometimes it doesn't happen. That's fine, because I will come back stronger." He also cited the challenging playing conditions, specifically the high humidity, as a significant hurdle he had to adapt to during the tournament.

In response to Staksrud's call for US competition, men's singles champion Hoang Nam agreed with the assessment regarding playing conditions. The player from Tay Ninh province plans to compete in the US later this year. "Staksrud's statement has merit, because when you go to the US circuit, everything will be different due to the outdoor playing conditions," Hoang Nam said after his victory on 5/4. "When top players come to Vietnam, they still need time to adapt to the climate and playing conditions. I also want to compete in the US, but the PPA schedule in Asia is very dense, and I haven't been able to arrange it. I think I will try to go to the US at the end of the year to see how fast the big opponents really play."

By Vy Anh