Top Vietnamese tennis players Ly Hoang Nam, Trinh Linh Giang and Le Quoc Khanh have been awarded wildcard entries to compete in the Vietnam Tennis Open Da Nang City 2019 in the central city on January 6-12.

Top Vietnamese player Ly Hoang Nam gets a wildcard for the men’s singles and doubles events at ATP Challenger Tour, Vietnam Tennis Open Da Nang City 2019. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnam Tennis Federation)

It’s the first time the central city has hosted a professional tennis tournament with 48 players in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP)’s top ranking taking part.

Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Tennis Federation Nguyen Quoc Ky said at a press conference last week that the tournament will be a tough challenge for Vietnamese players.

He said top seeds Spain’s Marcel Granollers, the 96th–ranked ATP; Teymuraz Gabashvili from Russia, who placed 369th in ATP’s rankings; and India’s Saketh Myneni – who won the men’s singles title at the Vietnam Open in 2015 will also compete in the men’s singles and doubles at Tien Son Sports Village for total cash prizes of 55,000 USD.

Ky said local players would earn precious points from winning matches at the tournament and improve their ATP’s rankings.

The men’s singles winner will walk away with 7,200 USD and earn 80 points in the ATP rankings, while the double title victors will get a cash prize of 3,100 USD and 80 points.

As planned, qualifying matches will be played at three courts of the sport village from 11am, while main draw matches will begin from 6pm on January 6-12.

The opening ceremony will be held at 6pm on January 6.

Ly Hoang Nam and Trinh Linh Giang will compete in the men’s singles, while Nam and his teammate Le Quoc Khanh will play in the doubles.

Trinh Linh Giang and American-Vietnamese Daniel Nguyen will register in the doubles event.

The tournament will be free for all visitors and local residents.

At the Hung Thinh Challenger Vietnam Open tennis tournament in HCM City last year, Russian Mikhail Youzhny grabbed the men’s singles title after a 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian John Millman.

Last year, Ly Hoang Nam, who played with Sumit Nagal of India in the doubles, was knocked out from the first round after losing to Ti Chen of Taipei (China) and Australian Max Purcell 2-6, 6-2, 7-10 (super tie break).-VNS