Nguyen Thuy Linh faces a player with a special name in the second round of Orleans Masters 2026.

This is predicted to be an easy match for Nguyen Thuy Linh if the Phu Tho-born player performs at her usual level.

On March 18 afternoon Vietnam time, the pride of Vietnamese badminton - Nguyen Thuy Linh - made her debut at the Super 300 Orleans Masters 2026 held in France. Here, the world's 26th-ranked player achieved a victory that could not have been more dramatic against an opponent ranked 9 places above her - Lin Hsiang-ti (Taipei, China) with scores of 21-19; 20-22; 22-20.

Thuy Linh had the chance to finish the match earlier with 5 match points in the second game, but an unbelievable scenario unfolded as the Vietnamese representative allowed her opponent to score 7 consecutive points and lost the game 20-22. In the decisive third game, Thuy Linh faced difficulty trailing by 3 points during a crucial stretch, but the Phu Tho-born player fought back strongly to level at 19-19, then gained two more match points and utilized one to secure a hard-fought victory.

Moving into the second round (round of 16), Nguyen Thuy Linh is likely to have a more comfortable match. The opponent for the "Badminton Beauty of Vietnam" was also determined shortly after: Lo Sin Yan Happy (world rank 75).

Happy, 23 years old, is a player from Hong Kong. In her career, she has won one championship at the Iran Fajr International Challenge 2024 - a tournament where Nguyen Hai Dang also stood on the top podium in the men's singles event. The highest ranking achieved by this player with a joyful and happy name is 41 - attained in September 2024.

Due to her current relatively low ranking, Happy had to participate in Orleans Masters 2026 from the qualifying rounds. She secured two consecutive easy 2-0 victories against Tonrug Saeheng (Thailand) and Juliane Piron of host nation France, then overcame Devika Sihag (India) in three games in the first round.

Nguyen Thuy Linh and Lo Sin Yan Happy have never faced each before. It is known that after finishing her journey in France, the Hong Kong player will come to Vietnam to participate in the Ciputra Hanoi - Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge 2026.

The match between Thuy Linh and Happy in the round of 16 of Orleans Masters 2026 is scheduled to take place at 22:20 on March 19 Vietnam time on court 3, as the sixth match (after the women's singles match between Pitchamon Opatniputh and Pai Yu-po).

If she defeats Happy, Thuy Linh will definitely face an opponent from Japan: former world number one Nozomi Okuhara or Manami Suizu - who has faced the Vietnamese representative four times before.