Ly Hoang Nam has done something no Vietnamese pickleball player has done before. As of the latest DUPR rankings update in June 2026, the 28-year-old has officially reached the No. 1 position in Asia for men's singles with a 6.267 DUPR rating.
What makes this achievement stand out is how fast it came. Hoang Nam only made the switch from professional tennis to pickleball in early 2025. Within a year and a half, he is now the top-ranked player on the continent.
From Tennis Court to Pickleball Court
Hoang Nam spent years as Vietnam's top tennis player before making the pivot. His background has translated remarkably well to pickleball. His footwork, court positioning, and ability to absorb pace from hard-hitting opponents are attributes that have given him an edge over players who came up through pickleball from the start.
His results on the PPA Asia Tour back this up. He claimed his first major singles title in Hangzhou, China, in 2025, defeating Hong Kong's Jack Wong Hong-kit in the final. He then repeated the feat at the PPA Asia 1000 MB Hanoi Cup 2026, where he rallied past world No. 4 Christian Alshon in the quarterfinals before beating compatriot Truong Vinh Hien in the final. Two major titles in his debut season on the circuit are a run most professionals would be proud of.
On the global rankings, Hoang Nam has broken into the top 15 for the first time, sitting just one spot below pickleball legend Ben Johns, who holds 3,587 points to Hoang Nam's 3,100. Johns, who has won a record 21 Triple Crowns on the PPA Tour, has scaled back his singles appearances this season, leaving the door open for challengers like Hoang Nam to close the gap.
Vietnam's Dominance Goes Beyond One Player
The bigger story might be just how deep the Vietnamese bench runs. On the current DUPR Asian rankings for men's singles, Vietnam claims five spots in the top 10. Alongside Hoang Nam, the names Phuc Huynh, Luc Pham, Truong Vinh Hien, and Nguyen Viet Hoang all feature among Asia's elite.
Truong Vinh Hien has been particularly impressive. He reached the Hanoi Cup final after stunning world No. 2 Federico Staksrud in the semifinals, and now sits 17th in the world with 2,500 points.
Vietnam has moved from being a pickleball nation to watch to one that other countries need to plan around. That shift has happened quickly, and the rankings reflect it.
Eyes on Da Nang: Pickleball World Cup 2026
The timing of Hoang Nam's rise could not be better. Vietnam will host the Pickleball World Cup 2026 in Da Nang from August 30 to September 6. For Hoang Nam and his teammates, playing in front of a home crowd while ranked at the top of Asia adds another layer of expectation to what is already shaping up to be the biggest pickleball event the country has hosted.
The question now is whether Hoang Nam can use his Asian No. 1 status as a launching pad for something bigger on the world stage. Given the trajectory, it would not be surprising to see him push further up the global rankings before the year is out.
Want to improve your own pickleball game?
Watching players like Hoang Nam compete at the highest level is a reminder of how much the right coaching can accelerate your progress. If you are looking for a qualified pickleball coach in Southeast Asia, check out coach.thepicklebase.com to browse coaches near you. You can also follow us on Instagram at @thepicklebase for the latest pickleball news and updates from across the region.
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