Luc Pham pulled off a major upset by defeating top seed Chris Haworth in the Round of 16 at the Las Vegas Open. The 4-11, 11-7, 11-8 defeat ended Haworth’s bid for a second consecutive men’s singles title.
Pham bounced back after dropping the opening game to take control of the match and secure the biggest win of his PPA Tour career. The No. 14 seed combined precise baseline placement with delicate touch at the net to unsettle Haworth and complete the comeback.
Pham, who has enjoyed a strong run in men’s singles since joining the PPA Tour in December 2025, will now face John Lucian Goins in the quarterfinals.
Earlier, Pham beat Aanik Lohani in straight games (11-1, 11-7) in Round of 32, while in the Round of 64, he trounced Troy Akin 7-11, 11-8, 11-6.
The 2025 signing has already demonstrated Pham’s ability to compete deep into major events. Before Thursday’s upset, he had reached the men’s doubles quarterfinals at the same tournament last October, partnering Will MacKinnon.
What a day for Luc Pham! https://t.co/wpzAH9nZ9b pic.twitter.com/DGaz54MuMm
— Carvana PPA Tour (@PPAtour) October 2, 2026
Pham also arrives at the event with recent singles success on the PPA Tour Asia circuit. He claimed the silver medal at the Ho Chi Minh City Open in August, underlining his growing credentials in the discipline.
He will now turn his attention to a quarterfinal clash against No. 8 seed Goins on Friday. A victory would propel Pham into the first PPA semifinal of his career on US soil.
His schedule remains packed on Thursday, with an appearance still to come in men’s doubles. Pham will combine with Mohaned Alhouni, with the pair set to face Goins and Elliott Schupp.
For Pham, the singles victory provides a significant step in his development on the PPA Tour. After overcoming the tournament’s top seed, he now has the chance to extend his run and reach a milestone semifinal on Friday.