Hoang Nam Ly Triumphs at MB Hanoi Cup, Kaitlyn Christian Stages Epic Comeback
Hoang Nam Ly Claims Victory at MB Hanoi Cup
Hoang Nam Ly from Vietnam secured his second PPA Tour Asia title at the MB Hanoi Cup, which took place on April 5 at the My Dinh Indoor Athletics Arena in Hanoi. In a thrilling all-Vietnamese final, Nam Ly, who previously won the Hangzhou Open, triumphed over Hien Truong with a decisive score of 11-5, 11-6. Both competitors showcased exceptional skills throughout the tournament, with Truong making headlines by defeating the top-seeded Federico Staksrud in the semifinals, while Nam Ly overcame tough opponents like Christian Alshon and Dylan Frazier to reach the final.
Expressing his joy, Nam Ly remarked, “Winning my first PPA Tour Asia title in my home country is incredibly special.”
Kaitlyn Christian's Dramatic Comeback
The women’s singles final was equally captivating, as Kaitlyn Christian made a stunning comeback to defeat Brooke Buckner with scores of 7-11, 14-12, 11-9. After losing the first game and trailing 3-8 in the second, Christian saved two match points and rallied to equalize the match. In the final game, she faced a daunting 4-9 deficit but managed to win seven consecutive points to clinch the victory. This win marks her third international singles title on the PPA Tour.
Christian credited the enthusiastic crowd for her success, stating, “I felt the energy from the audience. Playing in front of such a supportive crowd is exhilarating, and I can’t wait to return.”
Doubles Competitions Highlighted by Top Seeds
The doubles events were dominated by the top-seeded players, with Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns each winning two titles over the weekend. Waters teamed up with Anna Bright to secure the women’s doubles title against Tyra Black and Catherine Parenteau, and later, she and Johns won the mixed doubles championship by defeating Kaitlyn Christian and Christian Alshon. In the men’s doubles final, Johns and Gabe Tardio maintained their perfect record in 2026, overcoming Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud with scores of 11-0, 7-11, 11-6.
Medal Winners at the MB Hanoi Cup:
Women’s Singles
Gold: Kaitlyn Christian
Silver: Brooke Buckner
Bronze: Kate Fahey
Men’s Singles
Gold: Hoang Nam Ly
Silver: Hien Truong
Bronze: Dylan Frazier
Mixed Doubles
Gold: Anna Leigh Waters-Ben Johns
Silver: Kaitlyn Christian-Christian Alshon
Bronze: Tyra Black-Gabe Tardio
Women’s Doubles
Gold: Anna Leigh Waters-Anna Bright
Silver: Tyra Black-Catherine Parenteau
Bronze: Tina Pisnik-Jessie Irvine
Men’s Doubles
Gold: Ben Johns-Gabe Tardio
Silver: Hayden Patriquin-Federico Staksrud
Bronze: Eric Oncins-Dylan Frazier