Nguyen Thuy Linh's Vietnam Open title defence ended in her opening match with a straight-games defeat to Xu Wen Jing on September 9. The Vietnamese player was seeded second at the tournament, held at Nguyen Du Sports Hall in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to VnExpress, Thuy Linh had an opportunity to force a deciding game but could not protect her late advantage in the second. Xu drew level at 17-17 before winning it 22-20. Shots sent wide or into the net proved costly for the home player during that crucial closing phase.
The 19-year-old Chinese opponent had also beaten Thuy Linh at the Korean Master event the previous month. Their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City produced the same winner, despite an encouraging start by Thuy Linh in front of home supporters.
The Vietnam Open is a BWF Tour Super 100 event running from September 8 to 13, with more than 300 players from 27 countries and territories. Nguyen Tien Minh and Vu Thi Trang also lost on September 9; the report identified Hai Dang and Bui Bich Phuong among the remaining Vietnamese hopes.
Thuy Linh is due to travel to Japan for the Asian Games after the tournament. Her early exit brings an unexpectedly short end to her home campaign before that next assignment.