Lausanne, Switzerland, April 15, 2017 – Austrian twins Nadine and Teresa Strauss have swept their way into the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour – Malaysia Open women’s semifinals at Pantai Cenang in Langkawi on Saturday.
The Austrian duo made a breakthrough as they will make their first ever World Tour final four appearance after winning over local hopefuls Sook Ting Yew and Dawn Lynn 2-0 (21-9, 21-11) in the first round and Nicole Eizholzer and Dunja Gerson 2-1 (21-19, 13-21, 15-10) in their second round match.
Two more European pairs – Czech Republic’s Martina Bonnerova and Sarka Nakadalova and Austria’s Cornelia Rimser and Lena Plesiutschnig – reached the semifinals with two straight-set wins apiece.
“We stayed back to observe our semifinal opponents,” said Nadine Strauss watching their final four nemeses Bonnerova/Nakadalova. “We hope that we will learn a few things and use it to our advantage tomorrow.”
Bonnerova/Nakadalova trounced Malaysians Luk Teck Hua and Lee Geok Ting Elaine 2-0 (21-11, 21-11) and Russians Yulia Abalakina and Ksenia Dabizha 2-0 (21-19, 21-16), while Rimser/Pletsiutschnig won over Indonesia’s Martha Cisilia Rahawarin and Nur Sari 2-0 (21-14, 21-7) and Germany’s Katarina Schillerwein and Cinja Tillman 2-0 (21-11, 21-19).
Emily Stockman and Kimberly Dicello made it through in two tough three-set matches against Japan’s Samaa Miyagawa and Megumi Murakami 2-1 (21-17, 12-21, 15-9) and Australia’s Mariafe Artacho Del Solar and Brittany Kendall 2-1 (21-15, 18-21, 16-14) to complete the cast of the women’s semifinals.
“It was a tough match and the match could have gone either way,” Dicello said. “I just want my team to play our best beach volleyball and go from there.”
The Cubans had a show-stopping performance against favourites David McKienzie and Andrew Dentler of the United States 2-0 (21-16, 21-15), and continued displaying fine form with a win over Raul Mesa and Christian Garcia of Spain 2-0 (21-18, 21-18).
“We had a difficult match today (against Spain),” Nivaldo said. “The hot weather did not bother our game as we have similar weather in Cuba. We are looking forward to the next match and hopefully we can bring home the World Tour title.”
Tiisar/Nolvak won over two Malaysian squads to earn their semifinal spot. They routed Elangovan Yogeswaran and Mohamad Ammirol Mat Sidel 2-0 (21-8, 21-7) and Mohd Faiz Putra Abd Razak and Rafi Asruki Nordin 2-0 (23-21, 21-12).
Kolaric/Klasnic also won both matches in straight sets against Fong Yaw Cheong and Ang Wei Shen of Malaysia 2-0 (21-5, 21-6) and German siblings Bennet and David Poniewaz 2-0 (21-19, 21-18), while Schnetzer/Eglseer won over South Africans Jamaine Naidoo and Leo Williams 2-0 (21-16, 21-18) and compatriots Martin Ermacora and Moritz Bernd Pristauz-Telsnigg 2-1 (22-20, 10-21, 16-14).