18-year-old Nguyen Van Phuong excelled over his senior Pham Minh Tuan during the men’s singles final at the first National Men's and Women's Tennis Championships (VTF Pro Tour 200-1) - Hung Thinh Cup 2019, on April 7, thus claiming the tournament’s championship title for the first time.

Nguyen Van Phuong claimed his first championship title at the VTF Pro Tour 200. (Photo: Vietnam Tennis Federation)

At their last meeting at the National Men's Championship in Da Nang in 2017, Tuan took just over an hour to beat Phuong, only 16 at that time, 6-0 6-3 to claim the championship. However, that was the story of two years ago.

At this year’s Pro Tour 200, Phuong was seeded No. 1, while 1993-born Tuan, due to not playing for half a year, was not among the seeded. However, Tuan still affirmed his quality as one of the top tennis players in Vietnam, as he beat heavy opponents like Hoang Thanh Trung and Nguyen Dac Tien to reach the final.

During the final match yesterday, Tuan proved to be superior in the first games, taking a 4-0 lead. However, Phuong fought back to equalise 4-4, then took advantage of the Da Nang born player’s mistake to won 7-5 in the first set.

Pham Minh Tuan suffered an injury and had to give up in the second set. (Photo: Vietnam Tennis Federation)

It seemed that the semis against Nguyen Dac Tien cost Tuan too much, forcing him to suffer an injury after the first set with Phuong. Having twice called for the help of medical staff, Tuan was unable to continue and had to give up after being led 2-0 in the second set.

Therefore, Phuong claimed the 7-5, 2-0 (retired) win, officially winning the championship title. This is the second national championship title for Becamex Binh Duong’s young player, who previously won the National Outstanding Players’ title in 2018.

Losing the men's champion trophy, Tuan had the first title with Hung Thinh - Ho Chi Minh City team as he coupled with Le Quoc Khanh to win the men's doubles title, after defeating Van Phuong/Ngoc Nhut (Becamex Binh Duong) 4-6, 6-0, 10-3 in the final on April 6.

In the women's singles, Phan Thi Thanh Binh successfully revenged Tran Thuy Thanh Truc by winning 6-2, 6-3 to claim the title yesterday.

Tran Thuy Thanh Truc wins the women's doubles championship title. (Photo: Vietnam Tennis Federation)

As with Minh Tuan, despite losing her single championship, Thanh Truc brought the women's double championship to Hung Thinh -HCM City, coupling with Phan Nhu Quynh to beat Nguyen Thi Mai Linh/Nguyen Thi Phuong (Hanoi) 6-1, 6-1.

The tournament, with a total prize of VND200 million and 200 bonus points, marks the opening for the 2019 VTF Pro Tour system run by the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF). Held in Quy Nhon city, in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh, from April 1 to 7, the tournament attracted 55 athletes from six teams, including many top Vietnamese tennis players.

Nhan Dan