Nanjing, China, June 15, 2018 – Brazil’s Josemari Alves/Liliane Maestrini got off to a strong start in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Silk Road Tangshan Open after posting two victories on the first day of main draw play.
The Brazilian second seeds beat USA’s Summer Nash/Jace Pardon 2-1 (21-16, 15-21, 15-4) and the Czech Republic’s Sara Olivova/Karolina Rehackova 2-0 (21-12, 21-12) in Pool B to set the pace for a second consecutive gold medal chase in China.
The South American duo topped the podium at the recently concluded World Tour 2-star event in Nantong, where they defeated Italy’s Gaia Traballi/Agata Zuccarelli 2-1 (21-13, 19-21, 15-12) in the final.
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Top seeds Wang Fan/Xia Xinyi of China are also in top form with victories against Hong Kong’s Wai Yan Au Yeung/Tin Lai 2-0 (21-11, 21-14) and Japan’s Reika Murakami/Chiyo Suzuki 2-0 (21-19, 21-7) in Pool A, while their compatriots Lin Meimei/Zhu Lingdi led Pool C after beating Russia’s Ksenia Dabizha/Daria Mastikova 2-0 (21-18, 21-14) and France’s Aline Chamereau/Alexandra Jupiter 2-1 (21-19, 16-21, 15-12).
Japan’s Ayumi Kusano/Takemi Nishibori thumped China’s Cao Shuting/Zeng Jinjin 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) before eluding their compatriots Kaho Sakaguchi/Yukako Suzuki 21-18, 18-21, 15-10) in Pool D, while the United States’ Amanda Dowdy/Irene Pollock routed Sweden’s Sigrid Simonsson/Tadva Yoken 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) and Lithuania’s Ieva Dumbauskaite/Irina Zobnina 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 17-15) in Pool E.
The Netherlands’ Katja Stam/Julia Wouters closed the day’s action with straight-set wins over Japan’s Minori Kumada/Yui Naga 2-0 (21-19, 21-16) and Italy’s Traballi/Zuccarelli 2-0 (21-11, 21-9) to lead Pool F.
Main draw action will continue with the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals on Saturday, June 16.