SEMIFINALS SET THE STAGE: CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY IS LOADED

Semifinal Saturday at the MB Hanoi Cup 2026 is in the books. Ten matches, five finals locked in, and a Championship Sunday card that has something for everyone.

Truong gets his revenge

A major upset came early as Hien Truong defeated #1 seed Federico Staksrud 11-7, 4-11, 11-5 in the Men’s Singles semifinals. The last time these two met was in the Vibrant Linping Hangzhou Open 2025 bronze playoff, where Staksrud won 11-9, 2-11, 11-8. Same format, different outcome. Truong took the first, weathered a second-game blitz and then pulled away in the third. The loss means Staksrud’s search for a first singles gold in Asia continues.

Truong is set to face Hoang Nam Ly in an all-Vietnamese Men’s Singles final on home soil. Ly cruised past Dylan Frazier 11-5, 11-6 and is looking to go back-to-back after winning gold at the Vibrant Linping Hangzhou Open 2025. Truong made the MB Vietnam Cup 2025 final but is still chasing his first title. One of them lifts it tomorrow.

Dangerous at the top

Top seeds continued to fall in singles. After Staksrud’s exit at the hands of Truong, Women’s Singles #1 seed Kate Fahey joined him. Brooke Buckner came from a game down to beat Fahey 9-11, 11-6, 11-6 on her Asia debut. Buckner faces Kaitlyn Christian in Sunday’s final. Christian won the Women’s Singles title at the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025 and will be looking to add a second in Asia.

Christian and Alshon settle a score

In the Mixed Doubles the upsets kept coming as Kaitlyn Christian and Christian Alshon defeated #2 seeds Anna Bright and Hayden Patriquin 11-9, 11-8 to reach the Mixed Doubles final. The result carries some history. Christian and Alshon made the Mixed Doubles final together at the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025, where they lost to Bright and Ben Johns 2-11, 3-11. They’ve now knocked out Bright on the way to another shot at the title. Standing in their way this time: World No.1 duo Anna Leigh Waters and Ben Johns.

_{Christian Alshon and Kaitlyn Christian celebrate an upset win on Championship Court.}

Bright’s other shot

Bright’s Mixed Doubles run is over but her Women’s Doubles campaign with Waters is still alive. The globes top partnership defeated Tina Pisnik and Jessie Irvine 11-3, 11-2 to reach the final against Tyra Hurricane Black and Catherine Parenteau. Her first Women’s Doubles appearance in Asia ended at the quarterfinals at the Panas Malaysia Cup 2025. She’s gone further this time. One match to go.

The final they wanted

Meanwhile the Men’s Doubles final is set to deliver the matchup fans were hoping for. #1 seeds Gabriel Tardio and Ben Johns against #2 seeds Hayden Patriquin and Federico Staksrud. Both pairs came through their semis with authority. Tardio and Johns dropped just six points across two games against Dylan Frazier and Eric Oncins. The top two seeds going head to head on Championship Sunday. Four titans and one court for a blockbuster showdown.

Championship Sunday

Action starts at 8:00 AM (GMT+7) with bronze medal playoffs. Gold medal matches begin not before 1:00 PM (GMT+7).