Enjoying our coverage?
The March 2026 issue of World Pickleball Magazine is now live, featuring global league developments, tournament analysis, exclusive interviews, and stories from across the international pickleball community.
Follow @worldpickleballmagazine on Facebook and Instagram for daily pickleball news, and listen to the World Pickleball Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, and other major podcast platforms.
The D-Joy Tour has arrived in Vietnam for the opening leg of its 2026 calendar, and the primary narrative has quickly become the formidable standard of the local competitors. While the international field is densely packed with established touring professionals, the defining story of the week is the undeniable shift in regional power, highlighted by the fact that the men’s singles bracket will culminate in a fully Vietnamese final.
Men’s and Women’s Singles Showdowns
The progression of the local players has been nothing short of clinical. In the men’s singles, Phuc Huynh navigated his semi-final against Nguyễn Hữu Hùng Anh with total efficiency, advancing 11-7, 11-2 without ever looking genuinely troubled by pressure moments. In the other half of the draw, Nguyễn Đắc Tiến faced a sterner test against James Chaudry, battling through a tense 12-10 opening game before settling in and closing the match 11-7. The results guarantee a local champion and firmly underline Vietnam’s growing stature in the sport.
The women’s singles draw has produced a fascinating final built on a sharp contrast of styles. Sofia Sewing demonstrated remarkable resilience in her semi-final tie; after dropping the first game 2-11 to Yuchieh Hsieh, she engineered a complete tactical reversal to take the next two games 11-8, 11-3. She will face Domenika Turkovic, who took a far more ruthless path to the final by dismantling Roos Van Reek 11-6, 11-1 in a display of exceptional court control.
Standout Performances in the Doubles Formats
Across the wider tournament, the mixed doubles bracket has emerged as the most competitive and compelling division. Jack Munro and Sofia Sewing sent a severe warning to the rest of the field in their semi-final, devastating Ryler DeHeart and Yu-Chieh Hsieh with a heavy 11-0, 11-6 victory. Delivering an 11-0 game at this level is a massive statement of intent. They will meet Vivian Glozman and Quang Duong, who displayed remarkable composure to overcome Megan Fudge and Richard Livornese Jr. 11-7, 11-9 without dropping a game.
Elsewhere, the women’s doubles quarter-finals proceeded largely according to the pre-tournament expectations, with the top tier creating a clean separation from the chasing pack. Both Sewing and Hsieh recorded heavily lopsided victories to advance, proving the steep gap in quality between the elite partnerships and the rest of the field.
Tactical Context and Regional Depth
From a broader perspective, the sheer depth of the local entry list indicates that Vietnam is no longer merely hosting international events—it is actively contending for them. This depth is highly visible in the sprawling men’s doubles bracket, where strong domestic pairings like Phuc Huynh and Trịnh Linh Giang are mixing heavily with international duos, creating an incredibly open field.
On the court, the upcoming mixed doubles final offers a brilliant tactical clash. It will pit the structured, controlled approach of Glozman and Duong against the aggressive, momentum-heavy game of Munro and Sewing.
Looking Ahead to Championship Sunday
As the tournament heads into its final day, the remaining matches present a series of highly compelling narratives. While the women’s singles and mixed doubles finals offer elite international clashes, the men’s singles final between Huynh and Tiến is undoubtedly the focal point for the home crowd.
Regardless of who ultimately lifts the trophies, the opening leg of the D-Joy Tour has already confirmed a significant development for the global game: the Asian professional circuit is maturing rapidly, and Vietnamese players have firmly established themselves as a regional powerhouse.
Stay ahead of the global game by signing up for the World Pickleball Report, delivered every week with the biggest stories from across the sport.
Further Reading
- Latest pickleball news from around the world
- Tournament coverage and results
- Rankings and player profiles
- Regional pickleball coverage
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.