ATP Challenger 50 Phan Thiet stands out at 2026 Sports Festival

Organized by the Vietnam Tennis Federation (VTF) in cooperation with Nova Sports, the two tournaments are being held from September 6 to 13 and from September 13 to 20, 2026.

They are the third and fourth ATP Challenger 50 tournaments to be staged in Vietnam this year, further establishing Phan Thiet as an international destination for professional tennis.

Each week-long tournament offers a total prize purse of US$63,000, equivalent to about VND1.66 billion. Combined, the two events offer US$126,000, or approximately VND3.31 billion, in prize money.

The tournaments are part of the ATP Challenger Tour, an important level of professional competition where players can earn ranking points, improve their ATP rankings and build momentum toward higher-level tournaments.

Cruz Hewitt among the international names to watch

The player field includes a number of promising international competitors, led by French player Moise Kouame, the No. 1 seed and a player ranked among the ATP's top 200.

Mexico's Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez is the No. 2 seed, while Ilia Simakin is the No. 3 seed.

One of the most closely watched players is 18-year-old Australian Cruz Hewitt, son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt.

Lleyton Hewitt, a former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, has been one of the most prominent figures in Australian tennis. His son is now beginning to establish himself on the professional circuit and is currently ranked No. 354 in the ATP rankings.

Cruz Hewitt's appearance adds further interest to a tournament already featuring a strong international field, particularly for fans following the next generation of professional tennis players.

Thailand's Maximus Jones and Kasidit Samrej are also among the notable competitors in Phan Thiet.

Jones, born in 2004, is currently ranked No. 489 in the ATP rankings and is the reigning SEA Games 33 champion in both the men's singles and men's doubles events.

The combination of highly ranked players and emerging young talents is expected to produce two weeks of high-level and competitive tennis at NovaWorld Phan Thiet.

A major international test for Vietnamese players

Beyond the international names, the ATP Challenger 50 tournaments provide an important opportunity for Vietnamese players to compete directly against professionals who regularly compete on the ATP circuit.

Through wild cards, several Vietnamese players have earned places in the main draw, including veteran Hoang Thanh Trung and younger players Nguyen Minh Phat, Truong Thanh Minh and Tran Quoc Cuong of AP Sports, Nguyen Minh Thien of Becamex-Ho Chi Minh City and Nguyen Nam of Ho Chi Minh City.

For Vietnamese players, the significance of competing at home goes beyond results.

Facing international opponents offers valuable experience, helps players adapt to the pace and intensity of professional tennis, strengthens their competitive mentality and gives them opportunities to earn ATP ranking points.

For younger players in particular, hosting international tournaments in Vietnam can significantly reduce the financial and logistical barriers associated with traveling abroad while pursuing a professional career.

This makes ATP Challenger events at home an important part of the pathway for Vietnamese tennis players seeking to gain international experience and move up the professional rankings.

Tennis as a key attraction of Sports Festival 2026

Professional tennis is one of the most prominent sports featured in Sports Festival 2026, with a series of international competitions taking place at NovaWorld Phan Thiet.

The venue hosts the NovaWorld Phan Thiet International Tennis Complex, which received the Asian Tennis Federation's Gold Recognition 2026 certification for meeting international standards for ATF events.

The complex has also hosted professional competitions under the ITF and ATP systems, including four ATP Challenger 50 tournaments and the ITF World Juniors Competition 14U 2026 – AO Pre-Qualifying Event, which featured 150 players from 40 countries.

The ATP Challenger 50 tournaments therefore represent more than individual competitions. They are among the key sporting attractions of Sports Festival 2026, bringing international-level competition to Lam Dong while creating opportunities for Vietnamese athletes to compete on home soil.

The festival also features other tennis disciplines, including an international tournament for players over 35 and the Beach Tennis Championship, introducing audiences to a fast-growing format that combines elements of tennis and beach volleyball.

Connecting professional sport with tourism

The staging of the ATP Challenger 50 tournaments also strengthens the connection between professional sport, tourism and destination promotion.

With its modern sporting infrastructure and integrated resort facilities, NovaWorld Phan Thiet provides athletes and spectators with a setting that combines high-level competition with tourism and leisure experiences.

The events also help promote Phan Thiet and Lam Dong to international players, coaches, officials and tennis fans, expanding the reach of the destination beyond traditional tourism promotion.

For the Vietnam Tennis Federation, the continued hosting of ATP Challenger Tour events in Vietnam is part of a broader effort to increase both the number and quality of international competitions held domestically.

Such tournaments provide Vietnamese players with more opportunities to compete at a professional level, while gradually strengthening the country's connection with the international tennis system.

With more than 100 professional players, US$126,000 in combined prize money and a field featuring both established international competitors and promising young talents, the ATP Challenger 50 Phan Thiet tournaments are set to be among the most exciting and important sporting highlights of Sports Festival 2026.

For Vietnamese tennis, they are also an opportunity to compete, learn and take another step toward the international professional stage.