In the decisive third set, with the score at 11-6, Vinh Hien kept spectators on the edge of their seats by missing eight match points. He then called for a "medical time out", taking three minutes to receive attention from doctors on the court. Staksrud protested, suggesting it was a tactic, but had to accept the decision as the rules allowed it.

Upon returning, Hien served and delivered a down-the-line shot that landed on the line, but Staksrud called "out". Vinh Hien immediately used his "challenger" right. The entire My Dinh Athletics Palace held its breath before erupting in excitement when the referee announced "in" for the crucial shot. Vinh Hien defeated Staksrud 11-6 in the third set, winning the match two-one and earning his place in the final.

Vinh Hien celebrates his two-one victory over Frederico Staksrud, securing the first spot in the PPA Hanoi Cup final on midday, 4/4. Photo: Screenshot

Before this decisive moment, Hien showcased an excellent performance with high-level plays. He moved agilely, placed the ball widely across the court, and consistently landed precise smashes. He surprisingly won the first set 11-7 but lost the second set 4-11.

Before the semifinal, Hien had been playing with a white knee brace due to an injury. Spectators were concerned about a recurrence of the injury in the third set, but this did not happen. In the deciding set, the Vietnamese player played inspired pickleball, consistently scoring points and cutting off his opponent's serves. He built a significant lead of 8-3, then 9-6, before entering the dramatic final moments to defeat the former world number one 11-6.

"Before the decisive third set, I told myself to enter the court with high determination. If I won, it would be great, and if I lost, I would still learn a lot," Hien said after the match.

Vinh Hien's opponent in the final will be the winner of the second semifinal match between Ly Hoang Nam and Dylan Frazier, which is taking place this midday.

The PPA Asia 1000 - Hanoi Cup 2026, held from 1/4 to 5/4 at the My Dinh Athletics Palace, brings together the highest number of PPA Pro players ever seen in Asia. This also marks the third time the PPA Tour Asia has been held in Vietnam, following two events in TP HCM and Da Nang last year.

The total prize money for the Hanoi Cup is around 300,000 USD. The singles champion receives 4,500 USD, while the doubles champions receive 7,500 USD. If a player signs a contract with PPA Pro, they will receive an additional 33-100% in prize money.

2026 is the first year the PPA Tour Asia has unified its ranking point system with the Carvana PPA Tour. Athletes competing in the Hanoi Cup 2026 will earn direct points on 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.