In the final match in the under-14 group in the Junior Orange Bowl Tennis Championship in the US on December 23, Vietnam’s Hoang Thien has defeated Mackenzie McDonald.

This tournament is for tennis players of up to 14 years old, and has attracted superstars like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles and Justine Henin. This year, Hoang Thien was chosen as the 8^th seed thanks to achievements at Asian tournaments. In the final match, Thien trounced McDonald 2-0 (7-6, 6-0). During seven matches at the event, Thien only lost one set.

In this tournament, another Asian player, South Korea’s Hong Seongchan, won the championship of the U12 group.

Hoang Thien’s family has invested heavily in training for this young tennis talent. Thien’s father is rumored to have spent $1 million on his son’s tennis career. He won the championship of the U18 group at the ITF in Vietnam, U14 Asia championship and the U14 single and men’s doubles champion at the Chadigah tournament in India.

Thien practiced at a tennis institute in Florida, USA in 2005. He also learnt under an American coach named Ashok Bikkannvar, who was paid $50,000 per year.

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