Thùy Linh suffered a shocking defeat to a player ranked 60 places lower, resulting in her early elimination from the SEA Games.

Nguyen Thuy Linh unexpectedly bowed out in the round of 16 of the women's singles at the 33rd SEA Games, despite being considered the stronger player and having a promising start against the young Indonesian opponent.

According to the draw results on December 10th, Vietnam's number one female tennis player Nguyen Thuy Linh - ranked 22nd in the world and seeded number 4 - will face Ni Kadek Dhinda Amartya Pratiwi, a 19-year-old player currently outside the top 80.

With extensive international experience and a strong performance, having reached the Super 300 finals three times in 2025, Thùy Linh is expected to easily secure a place in the quarterfinals.

Thùy Linh was eliminated early from the SEA Games 33 - Photo: TGCL

In fact, in the first set, she played completely proactively, handled difficult shots well, and went on a nine-point scoring streak to win 21-16.

However, the momentum shifted from the second set onwards. Amartya played more confidently, putting pressure on Thuy Linh with fast-paced attacks. Despite trailing 20-17, Thuy Linh saved three set points but still lost 20-22.

Entering the third set, Thuy Linh's declining physical condition caused her to make numerous errors, unable to keep up with her opponent's attacking pace. The Indonesian player took full advantage to win 21-14, closing out the match with a 2-1 victory.

This defeat means Thùy Linh continues to miss out on an individual medal at the SEA Games, despite being expected to go far as the fourth seed.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/sea-games-33-2469598.html