MB Hanoi Cup 2026, Day 2: "Hanoi Upset" and Local Heroes Shine
HANOI, VIETNAM – Day 2 (April 2) of the MB Hanoi Cup 2026 will be remembered as the day the brackets were shattered. While international stars arrived as heavy favorites, the local Vietnamese contingent and rising UPA Trailblazers turned the tournament on its head with a series of historic upsets during the Round of 32 and Round of 16.
Hoang Nam Upsets Alshon (12-10, 0-11, 12-10)
In what is already being called the "Miracle in Hanoi," local favorite Hoang Nam pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over the world #4 and tournament 2nd seed, Christian Alshon.
Nam, a former tennis standout, used a "squat-dink" defensive style that neutralized Alshon’s signature power drives. After a crushing 0-11 loss in the second set, where Alshon seemed to regain control, Nam showed incredible resilience in the third.
At 11-10 in the third set, Nam hit a sideline passing shot. Nam immediately "called out" a return (celebrating before the official signal), and the chair umpire confirmed the point, ending the match. Alshon was visibly stunned, leading to a heated exchange with the official.
Replays of the match-winning point are currently going viral on Facebook. Fans are debating the "In or Out" call. Some claim the ball clearly caught the white tape, while others argue the angle favors the umpire's decision.
Mixed Doubles Vietnam vs USA Massive Upset (11-8, 13-11)
In a huge upset, local Vietnamese Sophia Nhi Huynh and Hien Truong faced off against the American-Vietnamese favorites and PPA Asia Mixed Doubles Champions Jonathan Truong and Alix Truong.
Hien Truong’s familiarity with the humid My Dinh Arena conditions and the deafening home crowd provided a distinct psychological edge. While Jonathan and Alix showed technical brilliance, they struggled with Sophia’s relentless overheads and Hien's aggressive net poaching.
UPA Trailblazers Shake Up the Pro Ranks
The newly signed UPA Trailblazer duo of Eunggwon Kim and Hong Kit "Jack" Wong has officially put the PPA on notice by dismantling some of the tour's most legendary teams.
Kim and Wong shocked the arena by defeating the veteran pairing of Tyson McGuffin and Riley Newman (11-5, 11-2).
McGuffin had previously been unbeaten in Men's Doubles in Asia. Jack Wong, known as one of Asia's best tactical minds, and Kim's lightning-fast hands at the kitchen line proved too much for the Americans. This performance establishes the Kim/Wong duo as the "team to beat" heading into the medal rounds.
Stay tuned for Day 3 coverage as we move into the Quarterfinals!
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!