The final matchday of the tournament, held in Gia Nghia City, Dak Nong Province, witnessed the "civil war" within Hai Dang Club in the men's team final series, as Ly Hoang Nam and his teammates at Hai Dang 1 Club met their fellow players of Hai Dang 2 Club to compete for the championship trophy.
In the first single match of the finals, Vo Truong Hai (Hai Dang 1) and Vu Ha Minh Duc (Hai Dang 2) were on the court. Minh Duc was better from the beginning, quickly claiming two breaks to win the first set at 6-2.
In set 2, Truong Hai was determined to win a break and took a 3-0 lead. However, this advantage did not last long because right after that, Minh Duc claimed a break in the 5th game, and then levelled the score at 3-3.
Following his momentum, Minh Duc won a break in the 9th game, and it seemed like he would take a 6-4 victory in this set, but his impatience resulted in unforced errors that let his opponent balance the score at 5-5. However, right after the unfavourable game, Minh Duc rebounded to win the next two consecutive games, thereby winning 7-5 in set 2.
Losing in the first single match, Hai Dang 1 Club decided to field top star Ly Hoang Nam in the second single match, aiming for a rebound. His opponent was Trinh Linh Giang, whom Hoang Nam had to give up against in the final of the VTF Masters 500-2 tennis tournament in Hai Phong last year.
However, Linh Giang could not repeat his rare feat that shocked Vietnamese tennis last year. In the first set, Hoang Nam got in better, breaking two Linh Giang's serves to win 6-2.
Giang was better in the second set, but he could only stand until the 8th game, losing a break to let Hoang Nam claim a 6-3 victory.
Both teams got one win in turn after two first single matches, forcing the finals to be determined by the final doubles match. Duo Tu Le Khanh Duy/Nguyen Van Phuong of Hai Dang 1 were the better side and won 7-5, 7-6(4). The victory helped Hai Dang 1 Club claim the championship title in the men's team event.
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The award ceremony for winners of the men's team event. (Photo: VTF)
A day earlier, Hung Thinh - Ho Chi Minh City 1 were crowned champions in the women's team category, thanks to a 2-0 victory over the Army team in the final series.
Hosted by the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF) and Dak Nong authorities, the four-day event attracted over 80 players from 11 teams and units across the nation to compete in the men’s and women’s team events.
