Vietnam’s Tennis Star Turns to Pickleball: Ly Hoang Nam’s New Focus Leaves Tennis Future in Question

Ly Hoang Nam, the 28-year-old tennis prodigy from Vietnam, has made waves in the sporting world with his recent decision to pause his professional tennis career and pivot to pickleball. This news comes on the heels of Nam’s impressive streak of seven championship titles in the past six months.

While he hasn’t officially retired from tennis, his temporary departure has already left a significant void in the sport, especially considering that no other Vietnamese player has attained his level of success and medal contention.

Nam’s choice to explore pickleball comes at a pivotal time for Vietnamese tennis, which is currently facing a dearth of top-tier players. This transition, whether temporary or permanent, underscores the challenges that the next generation of tennis players in Vietnam must navigate.

Although some young talents are emerging, they have yet to match Nam’s consistency, international acclaim, and overall impact on the sport. Nam’s rise to the top of Vietnamese tennis is a testament to his dedication and passion.

Nam’s journey to the pinnacle of Vietnamese tennis is nothing short of remarkable. Despite lacking formal coaching in his early years, he discovered his passion for the sport by simply collecting balls during local matches.

Driven by his growing passion, Nam persevered despite limited financial resources. His supportive parents played a pivotal role in his journey, regularly transporting him from their hometown in Tay Ninh Province to Binh Duong Province for training five days a week and picking him up every weekend.

It was only at the age of nine that tennis experts began to recognize Nam’s latent potential. That year, he clinched the under-10 championship in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, setting the tone for a stellar junior career.

In the subsequent years, Nam dominated national youth tournaments, claiming the U14 national title at just 12 years old, the U16 title at 14, and the U18 title at 16, solidifying his status as a rising star.

However, it was his international breakthrough in 2015 that truly cemented his reputation. That year, he secured the junior boys’ doubles title at Wimbledon, partnering with Indian player Sumit Nagal. This triumph marked the first time a Vietnamese player had made such a significant impact at a Grand Slam tournament.

Riding the wave of this victory, Nam soared to a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 375, a ranking that remains untouched by any other Vietnamese tennis player to this day.

Nam continued to etch his name in the history books in 2019 when he won Vietnam’s first Southeast Asian Games gold medal in men’s singles in over five decades. He replicated this feat at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games hosted in Vietnam, further bolstering his status as a national sporting icon.

Truong Quoc Bao, a renowned tennis coach, acknowledged in 2024 that Nam remains an exceptional talent in the Vietnamese tennis landscape, stating, “At this time, it is not easy for Vietnamese tennis to find a special factor like Ly Hoang Nam.”

Over the span of his decade-long professional career, Nam has been the undisputed ambassador for Vietnamese tennis. His name has become synonymous with the sport, celebrated for his achievements and his pivotal role in elevating Vietnam’s presence on the international tennis stage.

Now, as Nam embarks on his pickleball journey, Vietnamese tennis faces the daunting task of rebuilding without its most illustrious figure. While Nam has indicated that his move is not a permanent retirement, his ongoing success in pickleball and the absence of a clear return timeline leave the immediate future of Vietnamese tennis uncertain.

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