HCM CITY (VNS) — Local top tennis ace Ly Hoang Nam faces a big challenge in the first round of the Viet Nam Open, after a draw yesterday in HCM City.

Nam is one of three host players having a wildcard to compete in the main round of the annual tournament. He will play No 2 seed James Duckworth of Australia.

Duckworth is world No 98 and has played in four Grand Slams.

Nam is not among the top 1,000.

Their match will be played tomorrow.

According to the draw, Pham Minh Tuan, another wildcard player, will face Yang Tsung-hua of Chinese Taipei, ranked No 214 in the world, while Nguyen Hoang Thien will see Huang Liang-chi, No 319, also from Taipei.

The Open will be kicked off at the Lan Anh Tennis Club with more than 150 participants who will vie for a bonus of US$50,000. — VNS