Vietnam’s Hoang Nam Ly has simply pulled off the shocker of shockers on Friday, besting world no. 2 and presumptive title favorite Federico Staksrud, 2-0 (11-8, 12-10), within the semifinals of the Hangzhou Open 2025.
Ly, who’s at present ranked no. 3 within the PPA Tour Asia, performed arguably his most interesting sport of pickleball, leaning on his exact shot-making, tenacity, and high-octane rushes on the internet to stun the extremely favoured Argentinian within the very first set.
Seemingly reeling, Staksrud tried to match Ly’s ferocity in a nip-and-tuck, back-and-forth second set. The Vietnamese pickleball star, nonetheless, confirmed immense grace below strain within the face of Staksrud’s strain and proved steadier in an thrilling endgame to tug out the upset win.
The 28-year-old Ly will tackle Hong Kong’s Jack Wong Hong-kit within the Males’s Singles Finals of the Hangzhou Open 2025. Hong-kit, the no. 1 participant within the PPA Tour, had earlier pulled off an identical stunner, beating world no. 3 Connor Garnett within the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Ly and Hong-kit will dispute the all-Asia gold-medal match on Saturday. Ly will probably be wanting so as to add a fifth podium end within the PPA Tour Asia after successful silver within the MB Vietnam Open 2025, and bronze within the MB Vietnam Cup 2025, Panas Malaysia Cup, and Hong Kong Open 2025. Hong-kit will attempt to add to his medal haul, which at present consists of a gold medal within the Hong Kong Open, a silver medal within the Panas Malaysia Cup, and bronze medals within the Sansan Fukuoka Open and Panas Malaysia Cup.
