Vietnam fall short against the United States in Pickleball World Cup final

Vietnam could not produce an upset against the United States in the Pickleball World Cup final, but still secured a historic silver medal on home soil. The Open Team final took place on the evening of September 6 at Tien Son Sports Palace in Da Nang.

The match was moved one hour earlier than scheduled, yet the venue filled with supporters who created an intense atmosphere for both teams. The United States, considered the birthplace of pickleball, was missing some leading names but still fielded world-class players including Jack Munro.

Vietnam lost all four sets, 21-17, 21-10, 21-16 and 21-14. At one point, the home crowd erupted when Quang Duong scored six consecutive points in the third set to move Vietnam ahead of the United States.

Vietnam's leading players, including Ly Hoang Nam, Quang Duong, Ken Tam and Si Boi Ngoc, fought hard but could not overturn the United States' superiority. The result gave the US the championship and Vietnam the runner-up position.

Vietnam had reached the final with an unbeaten run from the group stage, defeating South Africa, the Netherlands and Australia before beating Japan 4-0 in the semifinal. The silver medal was described as a historic milestone and a source of pride for Vietnamese pickleball.