Fifteen-year-old tennis player Ly Hoang Nam Thursday dazzled spectators as he notched a 2 – 0 victory against Vietnam No.1, Do Minh Quan, at the semifinal of the ongoing 2012 National Tennis Championship in Hanoi. Prior to the encounter, it was expected that the teenager wouldn’t stand a chance against Quan, who has remained invincible in Vietnam over the last few years. The 29-year-old has so far claimed nine national trophies, six of which were earned in a row. However, Nam managed to take a lead at the semi by settling the first set at 6 – 4, before stirring the My Dinh Athletics Hall in the second set, which he strove to win 7 – 5 at the tie-break. Nam has gone into Vietnam’s tennis history books as the first male player to advance into the final of a national tournament at age 15. Nam, currently playing for Becamex Binh Duong, is an elite representative among local young tennis talents. In September he crowned the Under-18 International Tennis Championship held in Binh Duong, and was thus recruited to the Asian junior team to attend the 2012 Junior World Ranking Tournaments, which will run from October 13 to November 12 in South Korea and Japan. Born in Tay Ninh Province, 100km southeast of Ho Chi Minh City, Nam took up tennis at a very early age, and began following that career path at the age of nine, when he left for Becamex Binh Duong. “Although a right-hander, Nam has extensively practiced to be able to play with his left hand, and he has mastered playing with both,” his coach Tran Duc Quynh said. The final will kick off today, one day earlier than scheduled in order for Nam to be able to leave for Japan tonight for the world junior tourney. Nam will be challenged by Tran Hoang Anh Khoa, who beat Pham Huu Vinh 2 – 1 at the second semi.