Before facing Giang in the final, Kapadia had played 4 consecutive matches, including the semifinals and finals of men's doubles and mixed doubles. He emerged victorious in both events.

Trinh Linh Giang celebrates his victory in the men's singles pro final at the 2025 Panas Malaysia Open, part of the PPA Tour Asia, on the evening of 6/7 in Malaysia. Screenshot.

Meanwhile, Giang, having had a day's rest, held the advantage in terms of physical fitness. He took an early lead but faced difficulty against Kapadia's sharp cuts and drop shots into the kitchen, allowing his opponent to take the lead. Kapadia's crafty shots also earned him points. The Indian player reached set point at 10-8.

However, Giang neutralized Kapadia's difficult shots, focusing his returns to his opponent's backhand. After saving two set points, Giang rallied to win 12-10.

In the second set, Giang continued his tactic of serving, approaching the kitchen, and targeting Kapadia's backhand to limit his power. Giang fell behind but then equalized. Kapadia began to tire, unable to keep up with the Vietnamese player's shots. He used all of his time-outs to disrupt Giang's momentum and regain his stamina. However, this delaying tactic did not help him overcome Giang.

Giang reached championship point at 10-6. After more than 5 minutes of back-and-forth play, the Vietnamese player finally clinched the set 11-7. Winning the match 2-0, Giang secured his first Asian men's singles pro title.

After the match, Kapadia lay motionless on the court, completely exhausted. Giang climbed over the net to console his opponent. Kapadia, suffering from muscle cramps, had to be helped off the court by his coaching staff and could not attend the awards ceremony.

Giang received enthusiastic applause from the Malaysian crowd and hugs from his Vietnamese teammates, including Ly Hoang Nam. On the podium, the 28-year-old expressed his happiness at winning his first Asian championship. "I thank everyone who came here to support me, as well as the audience watching on television from home. I will continue to strive for even greater success in professional pickleball," Giang said.

The 28-year-old Giang, from Hanoi, was a top Vietnamese tennis star, contributing significantly to the national team in the Davis Cup and regional tournaments. With the rise in popularity of pickleball, he transitioned to the sport and often partners with Ly Hoang Nam in major tournaments in Vietnam, the region, and internationally.

Vietnamese players celebrate Trinh Linh Giang's victory in the men's singles pro final at the 2025 Panas Malaysia Open, part of the PPA Tour Asia, on the evening of 6/7 in Malaysia. Photo: Duc Thuan.

The 2025 Panas Malaysia Open, part of the PPA Asia Tour, took place from 4/7 to 6/7 in Panas, Malaysia. The tournament attracted top Asian players such as Jack Wong, Kenta Miyoshi, Lazaro, and Jimmy Liong.

The Vietnamese team participated with 4 players: Trinh Linh Giang, Ly Hoang Nam, Tong Nhat Minh, and Le Xuan Duc. In addition to Giang's championship, the young players Tong Nhat Minh and Le Xuan Duc won the U18 men's doubles title. Tong Nhat Minh also won the U18 men's singles title, and Le Xuan Duc won a medal in mixed doubles, partnering with Chinese player Yufei Long.

Duc Dong