Vietnam's No.1 tennis player suffers a 0-6, 0-6 defeat on home ground

A comprehensive and hardly surprising loss for the three-time consecutive national champion.

Vietnam's top-ranked tennis player - Vũ Hà Minh Đức was handed a "double-bagel" (0-6; 0-6) in his opening match at the ATP Challenger Tour Phan Thiết 2026 on the afternoon of January 20th.

Ranked outside the top 1,500 globally, Vũ Hà Minh Đức made his debut at the Challenger Tour level thanks to a wildcard for the home player. As the reigning national champion for three straight seasons, Minh Đức is the only Vietnamese tennis player regularly competing internationally post-Lý Hoàng Nam era, primarily at the ITF World Tennis Tour level, without advancing far in these tournaments.

His opponent, Arthur Weber, currently ranked 439th worldwide, is no stranger to Vietnamese tennis. Weber resides in Ho Chi Minh City and is a familiar figure in local tournaments. He is a well-known ITF-level player, recognized for his solid play style and minimal errors.

At the end of last year, Weber easily defeated Minh Đức at the ITF M15 Phan Thiết event, and this time it was even easier for the French player. He dominated long rallies and exploited Minh Đức’s inconsistent serve by playing carefully and strategically, creating a one-sided match.

Throughout the match, Minh Đức had only two break-point chances but failed to convert either. Overwhelmed in every aspect, the 2003-born player lost in straight sets 0-6 in less than an hour of play.

Over the past decade, Vietnamese tennis has had only Lý Hoàng Nam capable of competing at the ATP Challenger Tour level, highlighted by his runner-up finish at the 2022 Nonthaburi Challenger, where he lost to Valentin Vacherot – the surprise winner of last year's Shanghai Masters.

Since Hoàng Nam switched to professional pickleball, Vietnamese tennis has struggled: nearly relegated to Asia-Pacific Zone Group III in Davis Cup, no medals at the 33rd SEA Games, and lacking players competitive enough for ITF and Challenger Tours.

For Arthur Weber, this victory advances him to the round of 16 at the Phan Thiết Challenger this year, where the 33-year-old will face Max Hans Rehberg from Germany.