Xiamen, China, April 27, 2019 – Brazil’s Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Rebecca Cavalcanti Barbosa Silva took down current world number one team, Canada’s Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson to reach the semifinals at the 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Xiamen Open.
Ana Patricia and Rebecca progressed all the way through the qualification tournament before facing Bansley/Brandie in Xiamen’s quarterfinals. The Brazilian pair continued their unstoppable form in China, confidently beating Bansley/Brandie, 2-0 (21-19, 21-17).
“The match was really hard. We knew entering the match that it would be because these girls are so strong. But we managed to play together well and did our best. The conditions are quite different here because of the weather, but I really love playing in China and this is very special,” said Patricia Ramos.
The young Brazilians have posted some impressive results at their last four FIVB World Tour events with gold in Qinzhou 3-Star and The Hague 4-Star, silver in Yangzhou 4-Star and a final four in Las Vegas 4-Star.
“We’re really happy because this victory is really important for us because of the coming Olympic Games. The win really means a lot to us,” said Patricia Ramos.
Ana Patricia/Rebecca knock out Canada's Bansley/Brandie
Ana Patricia and Rebecca started competing together at world level in 2017, but the beginning of Ana Patricia’s 2018 season was hampered by a broken little finger.
“Last year I broke my finger and this was so difficult for me as I really hated not playing and I’m so happy to be back here,” said Ana Patricia.
Ana Patricia/Rebecca will now face Sara Hughes/Summer Ross in the semifinal after the USA team defeated 2018 Xiamen Open champions Melissa Humana-Paredes/Sarah Pavan, 2-0 (23-21, 21-16).
The second 2019 Xiamen Open semifinal will be between Czech Republic’s Marketa Slukova/Barbara Hermannova and Australia’s Taliqua Clancy/Mariafe Artacho.
Clancy/Artacho Del Solar beat Klineman/Ross to enter Xiamen semis
Slukova/Hermannova are proving why they are top seeds in Xiamen. They enter the semifinal after four wins in China, defeating Brazil’s Talita Da Rocha Antunes/Taiana Lima in the quarters, 2-0 (22-20, 21-13).
Clancy/Artacho Del Solar have their eyes on a second medal in Xiamen after the pair took bronze here last year. Their quarterfinal match was a fight with USA’s top seeded team Alexandra Klineman/April Ross, but the Australians paced ahead in the tie-break for the win, 2-1 (21-14, 19-21, 15-9).