Before that, Hoang Nam stopped in the semi-finals after a 1-2 defeat to Truong Vinh Hien in a controversial match. After winning 11-5 in the first game, the number one tennis player of Vietnam surprisingly lost 6-11 and 6-11 in the next two games. The situations of determining the inside and outside ball became the focus when Hoang Nam continuously reacted strongly to the referee's decision.
Some controversial situations were shown with images showing a lack of unity between the camera angles and judgments on the field, making the atmosphere of the match tense. The peak was in game 3, when Vinh Hien proactively left the "outside" mark in two key situations, but the referee still recognized this decision even though the video showed the ball touching the inside line. Hoang Nam lost his composure, continuously wasted and accepted the final defeat.
With the victory, Truong Vinh Hien entered the final for the first time against Phuc Huynh, while Hoang Nam moved on to prepare for the third-place match. However, because foreign opponent Thomas Yu withdrew, Hoang Nam did not need to compete and officially received the bronze medal.
Despite winning the bronze medal in the semi-final, it still left many controversies among experts and fans. The fact that athletes have the right to make their own mark on the inside and outside of the ball, while referees only have the final say, continues to raise concerns about the transparency and fairness of pickleball in Vietnam. This is considered a big challenge if PPA Asia Tour wants to affirm its reputation in its long-term development journey.
