Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly Continues Rise, Nears Pickleball Legend Ben Johns in World Ranking
Vietnamese pickleball superstar Hoang Nam Ly’s meteoric rise in professional pickleball continues. Fresh off his triumph at the PPA Asia 1000 MB Hanoi Cup 2026 men’s singles, Vietnam’s former tennis No. 1 now sits just one spot behind the sport’s most decorated player, Ben Johns, in the world singles rankings.
With 3,100 accumulated points, Nam has broken into the top 15 for the first time, peaking at 14th. It’s a remarkable ascent for the 28-year-old, who only transitioned from tennis to pickleball in early 2025.
At the Hanoi tournament, Hoang Nam Ly stunned world No. 4 Christian Alshon in the quarterfinals, rallying from a tough second set to win in a tiebreak. He then defeated compatriot Truong Vinh Hien in the final to secure his second major singles crown on the PPA Asia Tour—with his first coming in Hangzhou, China in 2025, where he toppled Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit in the championship match.
Ly’s rapid success is rooted in his tennis pedigree. His footwork, precise ball control, and sharp reflexes have translated seamlessly to pickleball, making him a formidable force and Vietnam’s undisputed number one.
He now trails only Ben Johns, the 27-year-old American who has defined the sport with a record 21 Triple Crowns—winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the same event. While Johns remains world No.1 in doubles, his singles ranking has dipped to 13th with 3,587 points, as he has limited his singles appearances this season. His last final came at the Mesa Cup in February.
Vietnam’s rise in pickleball doesn’t stop with Hoang Nam Ly. Truong Vinh Hien, who shocked world No. 2 Federico Staksrud in the semifinals before falling to Ly in the final, has climbed to 17th in the world with 2,500 points.
With Hoang Nam Ly closing in on Johns and Hien breaking through, Vietnam is fast becoming a new power in the global pickleball landscape.
