Since turning pro in late 2023, Quang “Avatar Ball Bender” Duong has shown tremendous talent, drive, and heart on the court. Often considered a “singles specialist,” Duong surprised many just a few months ago when he lifted his first doubles trophy with Christian Alshon in Bristol, Tennessee. It was only a matter of time before Duong found himself at the top of the singles podium—and that success came this past weekend in a place he says feels like his second home: Las Vegas.
Duong's Road to Gold
18-year-old Duong entered the tournament as the sixth seed and overcame tough competitors on his way to Championship Sunday. He set the tone with a decisive win over Mohaned Alhouni in his first match of the tournament, 11-0, 11-8. Duong went on to defeat a very in-form Hunter Johnson before taking down Roscoe Bellamy and Michael Loyd. The final saw a matchup between Duong and Connor Garnett, who had won all three of their previous meetings.
After taking game one, 11-8, Duong quickly found himself down 5-1 in game two. He was able to slow Garnett’s momentum and make aggressive plays that forced Garnett to cover all corners of the court. The key to Duong's success in this head-to-head appeared to be his cleanly executed putaways from the transition zone. In the post-match interview, Duong credited his dad and coach, Duc, for helping him train and hone that particular shot. With the 11-8, 11-9 win over Garnett, Duong earns his fourth medal of the season.
The Ball Bender's Favorite Gear
Paddle: VANGUARD Power Air - Shadow Grey, opens in a new tab
Top: TruWear Vortex Lifestyle Collared Polo, opens in a new tab
Bottoms: TruWear Men's Criterion 2.0 Lifestyle Workout Shorts, opens in a new tab
