16 players from Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and 10 from the host country are taking part in the 2010 National Tennis Championships Open, which started in HCM City on March 31.

16 players from Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia and 10 from the host country are taking part in the 2010 National Tennis Championships Open, which started in Ho Chi Minh City on March 31.

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Exempted from playing in the opening round were Vietnam’s top player, Do Minh Quan (No1), Chrisopher Rungkat (No.2), Nesa Artha (No. 3) both from Indonesia and Pongsiri Niroj (No.4) from Thailand.

In the first round Tran Duc Quynh, the tournament’s former champion, easily beat Malaysia’s 15-year old Mohd Assri Merzuri 5-7, 6-1 and 6-2.

Ngo Duc Duong totally dominated Orn Sambath from Thailand to win in two straight sets 6-0, 6-0, Le Quoc Khanh thrashed Vitaya Lasavady from Laos 6-1, 6-3 and Tran Thanh Hoang completed a successful day for the host team with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Cambodia’s Ek Chamroen.

In the second round, Quang should not have any problem when facing underdog Ho Vu Hoan while Quynh and Duong will have to overcome serious challenges from Artha and Pongsiri Niroj.

Another player from the host team, Ngo Quang Huy, will play Thailand’s Grittaboon Prahmanee.

The highlight of the second round will be the match between Huynh Chi Khuong and Rungkat, who won the Junior French Open in 2009.

The tournament offers excellent opportunities for Vietnamese tennis players to compete with strong rivals from around the region.

The winner of the singles event will receive a cash prize of US$2,500 and the successful doubles pair share US$1,500.

Source: VOV