VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thuy Dung wiped out rival Huynh Mai Huynh 6-4, 6-3 yesterday’s National Top Tennis Players Championships final in Ha Noi.

Dung has topped the Championship for three straight years while Huynh went in as defending champion. The pair battled it out in a heart-stopping women’s final at Sao Mai Court.

Dung got off to a roaring start and took the first break point on Huynh’s first serve.

She fired through the next two games, beating Huynh easily.

Huynh came back in the sixth game of the first set, winning a break point at 3-3. She stayed awake and pushed the score to 4-3.

The reigning champion unwittingly let her rival in on her weakness - high balls - and struggled to reach Dung’s lopes. Dung regained control of the match, taking the next two games and the second break point of the set.

In the second set, Huynh tried to make her return but could not hold back a strong Dung. Dung took the break point for a lead of 1-0, then 2-0. At 3-0, many predicted the nation’s No 1 to push Huynh off the champion’s throne.

Two games later, Dung made a crucial break after a series of brilliant baseline rallies and closed out the match.

“It is a remarkable victory as it is the first time I have registered for this tournament,” said a sweaty Dung.

“I was in good spirits before this final and received great support from home fans.

“They encourage me and give me energy after every game. I think that my win today was partly the result of my long-term training in Thailand, and the 17 international tournaments I have taken part in recently,” she said.

Dung has pocketed more than US$6,000 in competitions. She said about her rival: “Huynh made several mistakes during the match. She was a well-trained player but she doesn’t have as much power as me. I am younger.

She hit some great balls, though. I want to learn how to hit those for my future career” she said.

The 21-year-old will leave for the United State in two weeks for her three months of training in Florida.

In January, Dung will take part in a $25,000 tournament organised by the Women’s Tennis Association here.

Tennis king

A final between Quan and Huy, the nation’s No 1 and 2 seeds, was easy to predict.

Huy did well at the early games of the first set and won a break point to lead 2-0 over his champion teammate.

But a steely-faced Quan forced Huy to the baseline with rocket tennis.

Tennis king Quan lost one break point to draw 2-2.

Huy failed to grab easy scores, letting Quan levell the score for the second time.

Neither put a foot wrong after the score levelling and finished with a tie break.

Huy became jaded in Ha Noi’s weather, which was cold in the early morning, dry and hot in the afternoon. Quan’s rallies sapped his remaining energy reserves ans ended in a 7-2 tie break for Quan.

Quan breezed through the second set, winning five consecutive games.

“I played fairly well today, so did Huy, but he made serious mistake at decisive points,” Quan said.

“As teammates in Tanimex club, we know each other, but I think I am a little better than him thanks to my strength and experiences, so I won,” Quan said.

(Source: Viet Nam News)