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“I used to say that if I couldn’t advance to the world prime 100 earlier than I used to be 30, I’d stop. So to get that focus on, I must do every thing to be within the prime 300 this yr,” mentioned Nam who was 25 in February.
Good restart
Like many different athletes, Nam was locked down domestically for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having no matches, his ATP rating plummeted from the highest 500 to the highest 1,000.
“I couldn’t fly for 18 months and solely performed a number of occasions in Vietnam. I used to be additionally uninterested in practising day by day with out focused competitions. However I accepted and nonetheless labored onerous for the return,” Nam mentioned.
When the tournaments had been step by step opened, Nam was not at his peak however sturdy sufficient to take part in 16 worldwide occasions in 2021. Amongst them, he secured three ITF Males’s World Tennis Tour M15 titles in Egypt and Mexico in October and November to enter the world’s prime 600.
“This tour was an actual success for me. I gained factors that I had dropped throughout months of no matches. My world rating was pushed up. I feel it was an vital turning level for my sturdy return after the pandemic,” mentioned the previous Wimbledon junior boy doubles champion.
The ASEAN No 1 participant has then had a tremendous first half of 2022 with consecutive wins domestically and internationally.
Nam completed second twice within the M15 in France in March and Thailand in April. A month later he efficiently defended his singles title on the SEA Video games 31. He scored a hattrick of titles on the M15 occasions in his dwelling city of Tay Ninh Province final month.
His outstanding efficiency has lifted him up the world rankings.
Nam jumped 29 locations from No 393 to No 364, the best place for a Vietnamese participant in historical past. He broke his personal file of No 385 that he set in November 2018.
He’ll attend numerous tournaments this yr to verify he shall be within the prime 300.
Later this month, he’ll fly to Malaysia for 2 M15 competitions. He shall be again dwelling to affix the nationwide workforce collaborating within the Davis Cup’s Group 3 in August in Tay Ninh. After that, he’ll journey to Thailand for the Challenger Tour 50.
“My goal is to enhance my stage. The Challenger occasion is way more durable (than M15). I must enhance my health and method. My serves ought to be stronger whereas my forehand must be extra correct,” Nam mentioned.
A number of M25 occasions around the globe shall be subsequent in his plans.
Modest athlete
The SEA Video games 31’s victory is his finest reminiscence thus far.
Nam made historical past as the primary Vietnamese athlete to win a tennis singles gold on the regional sport meet in 2019. Almost three years later, he made one other mark as the primary participant to efficiently defend his title.
“I used to be joyful as a result of I defended the title and this time was extra particular as a result of I received it in Vietnam,” he mentioned.
“Profitable on dwelling turf is admittedly totally different. I used to be over the moon when lifting the cup in my dwelling city for the primary time.
“Three M15 trophies are actually significant to me. I’m not obsessed about losses within the remaining matches.
Tran Duc Quynh who was Nam’s first coach in skilled tennis has all the time been impressed by the participant.
“Ardour, striving and persistence are the key weapons that information Nam to success,” former nationwide champion Quynh mentioned.
“He’s a hard-working participant with skilled consciousness. He all the time desires to enhance himself and goes on the court docket with dedication. He has been probably the most perfect-technical tennis participant in Vietnam since he was 20.”
Quynh mentioned Nam didn’t have a perfect top (1.75m) for elite tennis. His health was not adequate, and his method have to be sharpened. However he’s affected person, industrious and bold. He has made himself a gifted participant.
Thai Truong Giang, proprietor of the Hai Dang Tay Ninh Tennis Membership that Nam is a member of, mentioned Nam was a prepared participant who devoted himself to tennis. He was not solely probably the most skilled and awarded member of the membership but additionally an enormous idol for a lot of of his teammates.
“Tennis is a tricky sport, I feel. Gamers have to coach and compete all yr spherical to be at their peak. It’s actually onerous however it skilled me right into a courageous participant with a powerful spirit,” Nam mentioned.
“I am an individual who desires to problem myself. I need to do issues that folks assume I can’t. I all the time set excessive targets and seize them. I’m now stuffed with power and confidence. Robust rivals are ready for me forward. It is going to be difficult however I’m prepared.”
Supply: Vietnam Information
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