From Vietnam to Singapore – Creating a Vietnamese tennis champion

James Pham

Tran Thuy Thanh Truc (L), Vietnam’s #1 Under-14 girl, and Nguyen Thu Phuong, Vietnam’s #1 ranked U-16 girl join in the Future Stars tennis tournament in Singapore - PHOTO: JAMES PHAM

Joining household names of tennis like Maria Sharapova, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep will be Tran Thuy Thanh Truc, Vietnam’s #1 Under-14 girl, and Nguyen Thu Phuong, Vietnam’s #1 ranked U-16 girl. While the ladies compete for top prize of almost US$2 million, the girls are taking part in the Future Stars tournament, showcasing top-ranked U14 and U16 girls from 17 countries, sponsored by the Women’s Tennis Association, the principal organizing body of women’s professional tennis.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for girls from countries like Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar to gain experience against other players from the region as well as to witness firsthand how tennis is played at the highest level, learning about athlete development, life in the public eye, media responsibilities and empowerment through tennis.

With the success of Japan’s Kei Nishikori (currently ranked #6 in the world) and recently retired, multiple Grand Slam winner Li Na of China, there has never been a better time for tennis in Asia.

While Vietnam has yet to have a player ranked even in the top 1,000 on either tour, the country’s hopes currently rest with 18-year-old Tay Ninh native Ly Hoang Nam. This summer, Vietnam entered the tennis conversation when Nam, partnering with India’s Sumit Nagal, won the Boys’ Doubles title at the Junior Championships, Wimbledon. Nam also made the Round of 16 at the French Open, helping him attain a career-high junior ranking of world number 11.

In a country with almost 90 million people, the odds are favorable for a future Vietnamese tennis prodigy. However, developing tennis, widely seen as a sport of the upper class, faces unique challenges in a developing country such as Vietnam, where top-tier resources are scarce.

“Vietnam needs to focus on providing coaches, facilities and funding for young talent,” says Alison Lee, Executive Vice President, International Group at ATP World Tour. “Climbing the professional tennis ladder is costly but if you have those three elements plus some local or regional playing opportunities, you are setting the system up well.”

These regional playing opportunities include professional-level tournaments closer to home, reducing the cost of time and travel, as well as providing Vietnamese players with the opportunity to compete against players from a similar background.

“The WTA Future Stars initiative had a phenomenal kickoff in 2014, with a fantastic turnout of young and talented girls throughout the region,” said Melissa Pine, Vice-President of WTA Asia Pacific and Tournament Director of the WTA Finals. “This expansion across 17 countries in Asia-Pacific [including Vietnam for the first time] shows our commitment to give back to the community through tennis, and present the stars of tomorrow on a global stage. We are excited to be able to showcase the passion and talents of these young athletes through WTA Future Stars.

“Through this initiative, we have developed and implemented a grassroots program for the region. It is an opportunity for the WTA to work with the local tennis associations to develop their emerging talent and give them the opportunity to compete with their peers across the region at the WTA Finals. We want to grow the sport throughout Asia Pacific and by engaging with local markets at a grassroots level we believe that this will encourage more young girls to take up the sport.”

Through events like the WTA Future Stars initiative, Vietnamese players are getting the boost they need to get to the next level where professional tennis can be seen as a viable option.

Pine said, “We understand that for developing countries, state support for sports can be difficult to secure but we believe that offering opportunities for youngsters to compete in an event like the WTA Future Stars will help to bolster the case for additional funding.”

On court, it is easy to see why Truc names world number 2 Simona Halep as her tennis idol. At 1.68m, the diminutive Romanian is almost 12 cm shorter than the average Top 10 player, but her retrieval skills and ability to turn defense to offense are second to none. “Nothing gets past her,” says Truc, the daughter of a non-tennis playing housewife mother and government worker father. Introduced to tennis by a cousin at the age of 8, Truc typically trains three hours a day, four days a week (double in summer) with the goal of one day becoming a professional tennis player.

At 16, Phuong is Vietnam’s No.1 U16 player and qualified for Singapore with top finishes at Vietnamese junior tournaments throughout the summer. She comes from a sporting family and says she can bake a mean puff pastry. However, on the court, she’s no powder puff herself with a strong cross court backhand and good defense. Like Truc, she is hoping to meet Simona Halep in Singapore. “I’m looking forward to playing against other girls in Singapore, to test my skills against them,” said Phuong.

For lovers of the game, the future of Vietnamese tennis is brighter than it has ever been, and the benefits are there to be had. “Tennis is often called a gladiatorial battle,” said Pine. “It is just you and your opponent. That teaches you mental strength, to dig deep, to battle through the tough points and hopefully win the match. Tennis and sports are a great way to foster friendships as you get to meet with people from all different walks of life who share a common passion. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

The 2015 edition of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global takes place from October 23 to November 1, and will see an expanded eight days of competition and the continued inclusion of the WTA Legends Classic, WTA Rising Stars Invitational and WTA Future Stars Finals competitions.

Entry to the Future Stars tournament is free. Tickets for the other events start at S$16.90 and can be purchased through Sports Hub Tix at http://bit.ly/1Mr1vlT. Log on to the WTA Finals website www.WTAFinals.com for more information.

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