MB Hanoi Cup Day 3: High Stakes, Marathon Matches, and Local Heroes
The energy at the MB Hanoi Cup reached a fever pitch on Day 3: a day defined by grueling endurance tests, unexpected upsets, and the rise of local Vietnamese talent against some of the world's best pickleball professionals. From the crack of dawn to the final serve under the lights, Hanoi witnessed history in the making.
Key highlights:
- Zoey Wang’s loss marks the first time she has been defeated in a Women's Doubles event in the APAC region.
- The 12-10 third-set finish for Staksrud highlights the razor-thin margins at the elite level.
- With Ly and Hien on opposite sides of the bracket, Hanoi is buzzing at the prospect of a local champion.
Men’s Singles Highlights
The Men’s Singles bracket provided some of the most dramatic moments of the tournament so far, moving through the Quarterfinals to set a historic Semifinal lineup.
Federico Staksrud (1) vs. Hong Kit "Jack" Wong (6) Marathon
In what is already being hailed as a classic, World No. 1 Federico Staksrud faced off against Asia’s premier pro, Jack Wong. The match was a grueling endurance test that saw Wong take the opening game before Staksrud clawed back for a 7-11, 11-6, 12-10 victory.
The third set was a point-for-point "cat and mouse" battle at the kitchen line. While Staksrud’s PPA Tour-tested conditioning eventually saw him through, Wong’s performance proved that the gap between the APAC region and the global top tier has effectively closed. Staksrud, who took bronze in Hangzhou, is now just two wins away from his first gold on Asian soil.
Vietnam Domination: Hoang Nam Ly & Truong Vinh Hien
The local crowd at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena erupted as Vietnam’s top talents secured historic Semifinal berths on opposite sides of the draw, keeping the dream of an all-Vietnamese final alive.
Hoang Nam Ly followed up his "earthquake" upset of Christian Alshon with a clinical 2-0 (11-3, 11-0) demolition of Japanese talent Tama Shimabukuro. The reigning Hangzhou Open champion is looking to go back-to-back.
Truong Vinh Hien secured his spot after a courageous victory over Australia’s Mitchell Hargreaves. Hien, a multi-medalist from the 2025 season, is still hunting for his first top-podium finish.
Women’s Doubles Highlights
The Women's Doubles Quarterfinals featured a significant shift in momentum as a long-standing era came to an end. Chao Yi (Zoey) Wang entered Hanoi with a perfect gold-medal record in Asia across three major 2025 events.
Pairing with Brooke Buckner, Wang pushed the No. 1 seeds Anna Leigh Waters and Anna Bright to the absolute limit. After dropping the first game, Buckner and Wang stormed back to take the second 11-9. The "Annas" had to reach deep into their championship reserves to close out the third set 11-8, narrowly ending Wang's undefeated streak in Asian doubles competition.
Mixed Doubles: Following the Script
Unlike the chaos in the singles draws, Mixed Doubles followed the rankings "chalk" perfectly ( higher-seeded or favored teams/players win their matches exactly as expected). All four top seeds advanced to the Semifinals:
- Waters & Johns
- Bright & Patriquin
- Christian & Alshon
- Black & Tardio
As the MB Hanoi Cup heads into the Semifinals at 8:00 AM local time, the heat in Hanoi is nothing compared to the fire on the courts.
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