The MB Hanoi Cup has moved beyond curiosity. It is now a genuine test of the global game.
Quarter-final day in Vietnam did not just produce results. It exposed where the balance of power currently sits, and more importantly, where it may be heading.
For full coverage of the global game, visit our pickleball news hub and explore our tournament coverage.
Men’s Singles: Vietnam Breaks Through
The headline moment came in men’s singles.
Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament, dismantling Tama Shimabukuro in straight games, 11–3, 11–0.
Alongside him, Hien Truong also progressed comfortably, defeating Mitchell Hargreaves 11–4, 11–2.
On the other side, Federico Staksrud edged Hong Kit Wong in three tight games, while Dylan Frazier came through a high-quality battle with Eric Oncins.
This sets up a semi-final line-up that tells the story perfectly: two Vietnamese players, two established PPA-level professionals.
Men’s Doubles: Structure Holds Firm
If singles hinted at disruption, men’s doubles brought things back into line.
Ben Johns and Gabriel Tardio were clinical, dispatching Wild and Wall with ease to move into the semi-finals.
They are joined by Dylan Frazier and Eric Oncins, while Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud also progressed without serious trouble.
This remains the hardest format for emerging regions to break into.
Women’s Singles: Ruthless Control
The women’s singles draw followed a clean script.
Kaitlyn Christian, Brooke Buckner and Kate Fahey all advanced in straight games, each asserting control early and never letting go.
Explore more player profiles in our global player rankings and analysis section.
Women’s Doubles: Cohesion Wins
Anna Bright and Anna Leigh Waters continued their run, overcoming Buckner and Wang in three games.
They are joined by Tina Pisnik and Jessie Irvine, and the pairing of Hurricane Black and Catherine Parenteau.
These are not just better players. They are better systems.
Mixed Doubles: The Benchmark Remains
Mixed doubles provided the clearest statement from the established elite.
Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns progressed comfortably, alongside Bright and Patriquin, Christian and Alshon, and Black and Tardio.
This bracket continues to define the global standard.
What Hanoi Is Actually Showing Us
This is not about who is winning.
It is about who is now capable of competing.
Vietnam placing two players into the men’s singles semi-finals is not a moment. It is a signal.
For more on the broader shift in Asia, read our analysis of PPA Asia’s global expansion strategy.
What to Watch Next
- Can Vietnam convert semi-final presence into a final?
- Do the PPA pairings maintain control in doubles?
- Is mixed doubles still the clearest benchmark of global level?
Further Reading
- Latest pickleball news from around the world
- Full tournament coverage and results
- Player rankings, profiles and analysis
Chris Beaumont
Founder and Editor-in-ChiefChris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at…
View All Articles →
