STARNBERG/PHAN THIET, January 25, 2026
The ATP Challenger Tour is back in Vietnam for a two-week hard-court swing, with both tournaments held in Phan Thiet, in Lam Dong Province. The back-to-back events bring high-level professional tennis to the south of the country, offering players an ideal setting to kick off the season, collect valuable ranking points, and build momentum on fast outdoor courts in a rapidly growing tennis destination.
Soonwoo Kwon captured the title of the Novaworld Phan Thiet Challenger 1. Playing only part-time while serving his military service, the 28-year-old South Korean storms through as a qualifier to lift the trophy. Kwon beat Ilia Simakin of Russia 6-2, 7-6(5) in Sunday’s singles final.
The World No. 486, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 52 in November 2021, didn’t drop a set all week. Kwon also dominated the championship match. He withstood nine aces and broke Simakin’s serve four times to prevail after one hour and 32 minutes.
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Kwon earned his fourth ATP Challenger Tour career title in addition to his two triumphs on the ATP Tour in Astana, Kazakhstan (2021) and Adelaide, Australia (2023). The Sangju native pocketed $9,500 in prize money as well as 50 ATP Ranking points.
The Novaworld Phan Thiet Challenger 1 offered a total prize pool of $63,000 and was hosted by the Novaworld International Tennis Complex. Phan Thiet, located in Lam Dong Province in southern Vietnam, is a coastal city known for its warm climate, long sandy beaches and growing profile as a sports and tourism destination. Set against a backdrop of rolling dunes and the South China Sea, the region combines natural beauty with modern infrastructure, offering ideal conditions for international tennis events.
