Vietnam players celebrate the victory against Sri Lanka in Davis Cup at Hanaka Court, Bac Ninh on July 19, 2025. Photo by VTF
At the Davis Cup Group III Asia-Oceania last month, Vietnam competed without Truong Vinh Hien, their last remaining experienced player following the 2024 exits of Hoang Nam and Linh Giang. Despite a depleted lineup, Vietnam managed to retain their place in the group with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sri Lanka.
With Nguyen Van Phuong being the most seasoned player on the team, leading a roster filled with young and inexperienced players, managing to stay in the group is considered encouraging for Vietnam.
The rising talents, including Pham La Hoang Anh, Nguyen Minh Phat and Vu Ha Minh Duc, are considered the future of Vietnamese tennis. However, their long-term commitment remains uncertain as pickleball rapidly gains popularity and financial appeal in the country, which holds considerable attraction to these young tennis players.
In the past two years, Hoang Nam and Linh Giang, the two brightest stars of Vietnamese tennis, have officially transitioned to professional pickleball, with Linh Giang recently winning a PPA Asia Tour in Malaysia, where Hoang Nam also competed.
The emergence of pickleball offers a more exciting path, career and finance wise for these players. Hoang Nam got brand deals, while Linh Giang just introduced his new line of rackets.
In contrast to the vibrant crowd and packed pickleball courts are the Davis Cup matches, with only a few spectators in Bac Ninh. This said a lot about the current state of the two sports in Vietnam.
“Financially, the opportunity is obvious if Minh Duc switches to pickleball,” said Vu Huu Ha, father of Vu Ha Minh Duc. “But he is currently supported by a long-term investment from a brand in Ho Chi Minh City, and we remain committed to tennis. We don’t want the sport’s presence in Vietnam to decline further.”
Vietnam national tennis team receive rewards after retaining their place to stay in Group III of the Davis Cup at the Hanaka Court, Bac Ninh on July 19, 2025. Photo by VTF
Pickleball’s rise is not just a concern for the tennis national team; it signals a decline for a sport once among Vietnam’s most popular. While tennis remains widely played across age groups, pickleball offers notable advantages: it’s accessible, affordable, easy to learn and particularly suitable for women.
At the elite level, Vietnamese tennis players face bigger challenges like limited prize money, high travel costs and scarce sponsorship, making it difficult to maintain a career. Even globally, players ranked near the ATP top 150 often struggle financially. Hoang Nam, for instance, sustained his career largely through sponsorships and investment.
Meanwhile, with its rapid growth, pickleball is a magnet for sponsors. In recent years, many brands have arrived in Vietnam, bringing tennis stars like the legendary Andre Agassi and former Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. Former world number eight Jack Sock, now ranked 10th in pickleball, also visited Vietnam last year to promote his sponsor’s racket line.
Former tennis player Trinh Linh Giang competes at the 2025 Panas Malaysia Open, a pickleball tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 2025. Photo by PPA Tour Asia
To deal with the current situation, the Vietnam Tennis Federation is implementing new policies aimed at supporting youth development.
“If a player wins a national youth tournament, they will be exempted from some expenses and receive airfare support when attending the next tournaments. In addition, we will send an official dispatch to the locality where the athletes live to reward them in time,” said VTF general secretary Nguyen Hong Son.
According to Huu Ha, collaboration between the federation and sponsors is critical to retaining talent.
“We’re grateful to the organizers and sponsors for their professional support,” he said. “This could be the key in helping Vietnamese tennis overcome this difficult period.”