Nguyen Thuy Linh Eliminated in First Round of Vietnam Open 2026

In the first round of the Vietnam Open 2026 women's singles, Vietnam's top player Nguyen Thuy Linh suffered an unexpected early exit, losing 0-2 to China's 19-year-old rising star Xu Wen Jing. The defeat has sent shockwaves through the Vietnamese sports community. The match took place on September 9 at the Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City. Linh, who had recently dropped to world number 32, was seeded second in the tournament. Her opponent, Xu, had also defeated Linh in the first round of the Korean Masters last month, making this a rematch with a history of unfavorable outcomes for the Vietnamese star. Despite strong support from the home crowd, Linh started well, taking an early lead. However, as the match progressed, she began to make errors, particularly when her opponent targeted her backhand. Her attempts to retrieve shots often left openings for Xu to exploit. Consequently, Linh lost the first set 17-21. The second set saw a close contest initially, but Xu gradually pulled ahead, reaching a 11-10 lead. Linh had opportunities to turn the tide but struggled with unforced errors, including shots hit out or failing to clear the net, allowing Xu to equalize at 17-17. Despite a valiant effort to save match points, Linh ultimately lost the second set 20-22, marking her early departure from the tournament. Following this tournament, Linh is scheduled to travel to Japan to compete in the Asian Games (ASIAD). This loss will undoubtedly be a significant challenge for her. On the same day, other prominent Vietnamese players, Nguyen Tien Minh and Vu Thi Trang, also lost their respective matches 0-2 to younger opponents. With the early exits of Linh, Duc Phat, Tien Minh, and Thi Trang, Vietnam's hopes now rest primarily on Hai Dang and Bui Bich Phuong, who remain in contention. The Vietnam Open 2026 is part of the Badminton World Federation's (BWF) Super 100 Tour and runs from September 8 to 13 at the Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City. The tournament features over 300 players from 27 countries and territories, including many strong competitors ranked high in the world. Source: VnExpress