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By Vy Anh  April 10, 2026 | 07:18 pm PT
After winning the PPA Asia 1000 – Hanoi Cup 2026 men's singles title, Ly Hoang Nam now sits just one spot behind the sport's most decorated male player, Ben Johns.
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Ly Hoang Nam during his match against Christian Alshon at the PPA Asia 1000 – Hanoi Cup, at My Dinh Athletes Arena, Hanoi on April 2, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
With 3,100 accumulated points, Nam has entered the top 15 of the world singles rankings for the first time, peaking at 14th. This is a meteoric rise for the former top-ranked Vietnamese tennis player, who only transitioned to professional pickleball in early 2025.
At the tournament in Hanoi last week, Nam secured a massive upset over world number four Christian Alshon in the quarterfinals, rallying from a difficult second set to win a tiebreak. In the final on April 5, he defeated fellow countryman Truong Vinh Hien to secure his second major singles title on the PPA Asia Tour, following his 2025 victory in Hangzhou, China, where he defeated China’s Jack Wong in the final.
Nam's rapid success is attributed to his tennis foundation. His footwork, precise ball control and sharp reflexes have translated seamlessly to the pickleball court and become formidable strengths for Vietnam's number one player, who is considered one of the most professional in both training and competition.
The Vietnamese star is now ranked directly behind Ben Johns, a pioneer of the sport who holds a record 21 Triple Crowns (winning singles, doubles and mixed doubles at an event).
While Johns remains the world number one in both men’s and mixed doubles, titles he successfully defended in Hanoi alongside Gabe Tardio and Anna Leigh Waters, his singles ranking has seen a decline. The 27-year-old has limited his singles appearances this season, with his last final coming at the Mesa Cup in February.
Johns currently sits at 13th in the world singles rankings with 3,587 points.
Vinh Hien, another Vietnamese player who pulled off a stunning upset of world number two Federico Staksrud in the semifinals before falling to Nam in the final, has also climbed the rankings to 17th in the world with 2,500 points.
