Team player: Huynh Phi Khanh of HCM City 1 overpowers Do Thi Dan Thi to help her team on the way to the National Tennis Team Championship in Da Nang City yesterday. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

DA NANG (VNS)— Duo Huynh Phi Khanh and Huynh Phuong Dai Trang won their singles matches over hosts Do Thi Dan Thi and Phan Thi Thanh Binh, and helped HCM City 1 lift the National Team Tennis Tournament trophy yesterday.

The team walked away with a cash-prize of VND20 million (US$950).

Khanh of HCM City 1 was shocked with a 6-7 (4) loss in the first set of the first singles match with Da Nang's Thi, but she then tied the game, with a 6-4 win in the second set before cruising to 6-0 in the third set.

In the second match against Thanh Binh of Da Nang, Saigonese Dai Trang took only 20 minutes to win the first set, 6-0.

Trang would have won the match and the final if she beat her opponent in the sixth game of the second set.

However, Thanh Binh of Da Nang fought back to draw the set 5-5 before winning 7-5.

In the third set, Trang cruised 6-0 and completed a convincing win for HCM City 1.

"It's a tough game for me today. We almost are exhausted due to scorching week. I would have finished the match and final early if I did well in the sixth game. However, I lost my control to let my opponent fight back to win," Trang said after the final.

In the men's team semi-finals, Nguyen Hoang Thien and Trung Hieu of HCM City 1 had an easy win 2-0 over Ca Mau yesterday.

Quoc Tri of Ca Mau had to drop out of the first single match against HCM City 1's Thien due to exhaustion.

Thien was leading the set 4-1.

In the second match, rung Hieu beat Quang Huy of Ca Mau 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 to take HCM City 1 to the final.

In the other semi-final, Binh Duong 1 beat Military 1 2-0.

The men's team final match will play at 9am today. — VNS