Vietnamese tennis is on the decline - Photo: VTF
On the afternoon of July 19, the Vietnam Davis Cup team will enter the relegation play-off match of Group III with the Sri Lankan tennis team. The losing team will have to play in Group IV of Asia - Oceania.
Alarm for Vietnamese tennis
This year, the Vietnamese tennis team participated in the Davis Cup 2025 Group III Asia - Oceania without any famous players. If Ly Hoang Nam gave up the Davis Cup in 2024, this year it was Truong Vinh Hien's turn not to participate. The team only had Nguyen Van Phuong left.
Therefore, the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF) had to organize a selection tournament to select 3/7 players to form the Vietnam Davis Cup team to compete in the tournament in Bac Ninh from July 14 to 19. Young players such as Pham La Hoang Anh and Nguyen Minh Phat have little experience in international competition.
While Dinh Viet Tuan Minh and Vu Ha Minh Duc are not strong enough to carry their juniors, the only hope lies in the ability to create surprises from the most experienced player, Nguyen Van Phuong.
The two losses to Thailand (0-3) and Saudi Arabia (1-2) were within the coaching staff’s predictions. However, the 0-3 loss to the Singapore tennis team was definitely a setback. This was the first time Vietnam lost to Singapore in the Davis Cup, indirectly sending the host into the relegation play-off.
It is very difficult for the 2006-born player Pham La Hoang Anh, as he was always chosen to play first in the 2 men's singles matches. Van Phuong had difficulty making a difference against Pawit of Thailand. Nguyen Minh Phat was impatient in the 2 doubles losses against Thailand and Singapore.
Ly Hoang Nam (right) and Trinh Linh Giang "resurrected" thanks to pickleball - Photo: KMT
Lost to the pickleball wave
The main reason for the decline in Vietnamese tennis results is the absence of top players. If we don’t mention Ly Hoang Nam, we still have Trinh Linh Giang, Truong Vinh Hien or even overseas Vietnamese athlete Huynh Thien Phuc.
More deeply, the names mentioned above are absent or do not want to participate because they are busy. Most of them come to the pickleball court to earn a living, refresh their image, and rebuild their personal brand, which tennis has not been able to give them for a long time.
Over the past year, the shift from tennis to pickleball has become stronger. Ly Hoang Nam was initially hesitant, but has now become a brand face.
Linh Giang has just "launched" a new racket after winning the PPA Asia Tour title at the Malaysia Open 2025.
Amateur pickleball tournaments, which invite top Vietnamese pickleball players to compete, always attract a significant number of viewers, both live and online. While watching Vietnam’s Davis Cup matches until midnight, viewers feel like their endurance has limits.
Who will "carry" Vietnamese tennis not only at the 2025 Davis Cup, but also further revive one of the once trendy and attractive sports .
The answer will probably depend on the efforts of union leaders. And this task will certainly not be easy.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cao-thu-choi-pickleball-ai-ganh-quan-vot-viet-nam-20250719000137203.htm
Comment (0)