The MB Hanoi Cup 2026, scheduled for April 1–5 at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena in Hanoi, Vietnam, marks a significant expansion for the PPA Tour Asia. As the 2026 season opener, the event features a record field of PPA professionals competing against top Asian talent in a venue with a 3,000-seat capacity.
The stakes are high for both local and international players: a total prize pool of up to $300,000 is on the line, alongside 1,000 PPA ranking points for the winners. This tournament is the first in Asia to offer direct integration with the global Carvana PPA Tour ranking system, allowing participants to earn points that count toward their official world standing.
1. Ben Johns & Gabriel Tardio (#1 Seed)
Ben Johns enters this tournament with a different strategic approach than his previous Asian appearances. Last season, Johns competed in the region with partners he didn't usually play with on the standard PPA Tour. This resulted in uncharacteristic silver and bronze finishes.
In Hanoi, he is bringing his regular PPA partner, Gabriel Tardio. This shift to their established US partnership brings a level of synergy and hand speed that hasn't been seen from Johns on this circuit before.
While they are certainly fan favorites, they face a challenge from Hien Truong and Quan Do, who prefer a high-tempo game designed to disrupt Johns' preferred slower-paced "chess match" style. This local duo previously pushed Johns to a three-game thriller and will have the home crowd's full support.
2. Anna Leigh Waters & Anna Bright (#1 Seed)
World No. 1 Anna Leigh Waters makes her international debut in Hanoi alongside World No. 2 Anna Bright. This partnership is the strongest statistical pairing in the women’s draw.
Their primary obstacle in the early rounds is the quarter-final matchup against Buckner and Chao Yi Wang. Wang’s counter-punching ability will provide a significant test for the Americans' dominance on the international stage.
3. Federico Staksrud & Hayden Patriquin (#2 Seed)
Federico Staksrud, currently contending for the World No. 1 ranking, partners with Hayden Patriquin. Staksrud previously struggled in Hangzhou, taking bronze, and has acknowledged the depth of the Asian field.
Patriquin’s aggressive energy is intended to unsettle disciplined Asian teams. Their projected semi-final against veterans Devilliers and Tellez is expected to be a high-level tactical battle.
4. Sahra Dennehy & Danni-Elle Townsend
Sahra Dennehy is currently the most successful player on the Asian circuit, having secured consecutive gold medals in Vietnam and Hangzhou in 2025.
Unlike the US-based players, Dennehy is acclimated to the local humidity and court conditions. If she and Townsend can dictate the pace through controlled dinking and specialized backhand flicks, they are positioned to upset the top seeds.
5. Mixed Doubles: Waters & Johns
The pairing of Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns brings a Triple Crown threat to the Hanoi draw. They are the favorites to win the title.
Their main challenge will be the "Asian pacing" which is a tendency for regional players to initiate speed-ups earlier than PPA standards. Teams like Tyra Hurricane Black and Gabe Tardio may find success by forcing this pair into high-speed exchanges.
MB Hanoi Predictions
While the American professionals are likely to secure the majority of podium finishes, the "home ground buff" in Hanoi is a legitimate factor. Local hero Hoang Nam Ly enters with significant momentum after recently stunning Federico Staksrud in Hangzhou to claim his first PPA Asia title. His transition from pro tennis (as a former Wimbledon Junior champion) has been seamless, giving him the baseline power to challenge the PPA's best.
Similarly, Phuc Huynh (who recently swept the Men's Singles podium with other Vietnamese stars), and Hong Kong’s Hong Kit Wong possess the counter-punching variety to disrupt the rhythm of the top seeds. If these regional stars can utilize the high humidity and vocal crowd support to force the favorites into unforced errors, a major upset in the final rounds is a distinct possibility.
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