Xiamen, China, April 20, 2017 – China’s Fan Wang and Yuan Yue are the host nation’s strongest medal chances at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Xiamen Open 2017.
Wang/Yue have two World Tour medals to their name and each was won in China, silver in Shanghai in 2014 and silver in Xiamen in the same year. Their first match is much anticipated by the local crowd and will open the day on centre court against Australian qualifiers Mariafe Artacho and Brittany Kendall.
Brazil’s Barbara/Fernanda meet another Chinese team X. Y. Xia/Y. Y. Wang while USA’s Dicello/Stockman face a difficult challenge in the highest ranked Brazilian team, Josi/Lili.
Canada’s Gordon/Saxton will be hoping to carry forward their recent momentum with back to back wins in Shepparton and Sydney in their match against Bieneck/Schneider from Germany.
Czech Republic’s Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova go into their second tournament of the season after competing in Fort Lauderdale in February. They face qualifiers Esra Betul Cetin and Merve Nezir from Turkey for a place in the final sixteen.
“So far so good, in our first tournament we finished fifth, so that was a great result. We’re in the main draw here, so we are just looking forward to play again and just put everything to every game,” said Kvalipova.
Nicolai/Lupo lead the way for the men’s main draw
Following an unpredictable day in the men’s qualification, the main draw places top seeds Rio Olympic silver medallists Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo from Italy up against one such qualifier, Mirco Gerson and Michiel Zandbergen from Switzerland.
In their season opener, second seeded Dutch pair Brouwer/Meeuwsen face one of three USA teams in the main draw, Slick/Allen.Sean Rosenthal and Trevor Crabb climb into the main draw from the qualification and meet Belgium’s Koekelkoren/van Walle who reached the quarter finals in Kish Island this year.
Ryan Doherty and James Avery Drost in their first ever tournament together meet locals Ha Likejiang/Bao J.
Playing in his first tournament of the year and with a new partner is Austria’s Alexander Huber. He joins Lorenz Letutschnig and they will face a tricky opening match against Langkawi winners, Gonzalez/Nivaldo from Cuba.
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