Facing off against Denmark’s world No. 67 Mads Christophersen, Hai Dang, 73rd globally, showed great composure and agility, forcing a tight contest. He clinched the first set 21-18 by playing the key points better.

The second set saw Christophersen bounce back, pulling ahead 20-15. Although Hai Dag saved two game points, he eventually lost 17-21, taking the match into a deciding third set.

In the final set, the 24-year-old Vietnamese player started aggressively, storming to a 9-1 lead and maintaining a 6-8 point advantage throughout. He closed out the game 21-11, sealing a 2-1 victory and securing a spot in the round of 16.

Hai Dang is scheduled to take on Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan (China), who is ranked sixth globally in the next round.

His teammate, Vietnam’s top male shuttler Le Duc Phat, had a shaky start against China’s Sheng Xiaodong, losing the first set 17-21. However, he bounced back strongly, taking control early in the second set to level the game with a 21-17 win.

Riding the momentum, Duc Phat opened up a lead in the decider, but Sheng managed to catch up at 14-14. Staying calm under pressure, he regained control during the final points to take the third set 21-17 and win the match 2-1.

Duc Phat will move forward to compete against Harry Huang of the UK in the next round.

In a surprise upset, second seed Nguyen Thuy Linh was eliminated in the first round by India’s 16-year-old rising star Tanvi Sharma. Thuy Linh, ranked 23rd in the world, was considered a strong contender for the title, especially after her runner-up finish at the German Open Super 300 earlier this year.

She started confidently and led 15-11 in the first set, but a series of unforced errors allowed Sharma to rally and take the set 21-19. In the second set, Sharma dominated with speed and relentless defence, going on a 9-point run from 4-4 to lead 13-4. Thuy Linh lost rhythm and eventually succumbed 9-21.

The US Open 2025 is taking place in California from June 24 to 29. Part of the BWF World Tour Super 300 series, it offers a total prize pool of US$240,000, with singles champions taking home US$18,000.

Following the US Open, Thuy Linh, Duc Phat, and Hai Dang are set to compete in the Canada Open Super 300.

Vietnam wins first men’s doubles at Ciputra Hanoi badminton tournament

VOV.VN - Vietnamese duo Nguyen Dinh Hoang and Tran Dinh Manh brought home the country’s first ever gold medal in the men’s doubles at the Ciputra Hanoi-Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge 2025 held in Hanoi on March 30.