Nothing to do, for the second consecutive Challenge tournament, for the two Italian couples chasing Olympic qualification through tournaments on American soil. In the second of the three tournaments scheduled in this phase (now the sand is that of Saquarema in Brazil, the third will be played in Mexico in two weeks) the Italian couples were unable to gain access to the main draw and therefore it always happens the chase to the top 17 places in the rankings is harder for Bianchin/Scampoli and Rossi/Lupo.
In the men’s field the Italian couple composed of Daniele Lupo and Enrico Rossi did not go far from qualifying, having won rather clearly in the first round 2-0 (21-17, 21-18) against the Brazilians Adelmo/Mateus. In the second round the Azzurri faced the Chileans Aravena/Droguett, coached by the former coach of both Italians, Paulao, and it was a spectacular match won 2-1 by the South Americans who always arrive in great form at this time of the season.
The blue couple started, as often happens, very well, dominating a first set in which they found themselves ahead 14-8 and knew how to manage the lead up to 21-17 conclusive. In the second set the Azzurri practically did it always ahead (6-3 and 11-9), then a point-to-point final with Rossi/Lupo who failed to take advantage of the match ball at 20-19 and suffered a comeback from the Chileans who tied the score with a score of 22-20. In the third set the rocket start of the South American couple (5-0) closed all the doors to the Azzurri who were unable to recover and surrendered with a score of 15-10.
In the women’s field, as in Recife, Bianchin/Scampoli was out immediately in the first round against the not irresistible Estonians Hollas/Remmeng who won with a score of 2-1. The Italians, after a complicated start (1-4), spread in the central part of the first set (19-13) and won with a score of 21-18. Second set played point to point until 15 all, then winning sprint by the Estonians: 9-6pm. In the tie break, leading 6-5, the Italians suffered a break of 0-4 and found themselves chasing, unable to get any closer to their rivals until the final score of 15-12.
WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT
First qualifying round: Flavia Moura/Fabrine (BRA)-Paulikiene/Raupelyte (LTU) 0-2 (13-21, 12-21), Shiba/Maruyama (JPN)-Andressa/Thainara (BRA) 0-2 (15-21, 17- 21), Helland-Hansen/Steinsvåg (NOR)-Wang/Dong (CHN) 0-2 (16-21, 15-21), Taiana Lima/Talita (BRA)-Ciezkowska/Lunio (POL) 2-1 (21 -18, 18-21, 15-13), Natasha/Giulia (BRA)-Cao/Zhu Lingdi (CHN) 1-2 (25-23, 17-21, 10-15), Bianchin/Scampoli (ITA)-Hollas/Remmelg (EST) 1-2 ( (21-18, 18-21, 12-15), Poletti/laura (PAR)-Kadeliye/Zeng (CHN) 0-2 (14-21, 19-21), Klinger/Klinger (AUT)-Dunn/Robitaille (CAN) 2-0 (21-17, 21-9 ), Acuña/Bianchi (URU)-Akiko/Ishii (JPN) 0-2 (8-21, 17-21), Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL)-Rivas Zapata/Amanda (CHI) 2-0 (21-9, 21-9), Erika/Michelle (PAR)-Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) 0-1 (17-21, 24-25), Hegeile/Vitoria (BRA)-Najul/Peralta (ARG) 2-0 (21- 11, 21-14), Coakley/Sweat (USA)-Navas/Gonzalez (PUR) 0-2 (16-21, 12-21), Kotnik/Lovsin (SLO)-Josi/Talita (BRA) 1-2 ( 19-21, 21-11, 13-15), Gallay/Churin (ARG)-Polley/Zeimann (NZL) 1-2 (21-19, 11-21, 9-15), Bansley/Bukovec (CAN)- Savvy/Toni (USA) 2-1 (16-21, 25-23, 15-8)
Second qualifying round: Andressa/Thainara (BRA)-Paulikiene/Raupelyte (LTU) 2-1 (16-21, 21-16, 17-15), Taiana Lima/Talita (BRA)-Wang/Dong (CHN) 2-1 (15- 21, 21-14, 15-12), Hollas/Remmelg (EST)-Cao/Zhu Lingdi (CHN) 2-1 (21-16, 14-21, 15-12), Klinger/Klinger (AUT)-Kadeliye /Zeng (CHN) 2-0 (21-11, 21-12), Gruszczynska/Wachowicz (POL)-Akiko/Ishii (JPN) 0-2 (15-21, 11-21), Hegeile/Vitoria (BRA) -Gutierrez/Flores (MEX) 2-0 (21-16, 21-9), Josi/Talita (BRA)-Navas/Gonzalez (PUR) 0-2 (15-21, 19-21), Bansley/Bukovec ( CAN)-Polley/Zeimann (NZL) 2-1 (16-21, 22-20, 15-13).
Group semi-finals. Pool E: Placette/Richard (FRA)-Vieira/Chamereau (FRA), Tainá/Victoria (BRA)-Akiko/Ishii (JPN). Pool E: Esmée/Zoé (SUI)-Klinger/Klinger (AUT), Ittlinger/Borger (GER)-Hegeile/Vitoria (BRA). Pool D: Ahtiainen/Lahti (FIN)-Vergé-Dépré/Mäder (SUI), Pavan/McBain (CAN)-Taiana Lima/Talita (BRA). Pool C: Hermannova/Stochlova (CZE)-Elize Maia/Thamela (BRA), Ludwig/Lippmann (GER)-Navas/Gonzalez (PUR). Pool B: Alvarez/Moreno (ESP)-Liliana/Paula (ESP), Xue/Xia (CHN)-Andressa/Thainara (BRA). Pool A: Naraphornrapat/Worapeerachayakorn (THA)-Bansley/Bukovec (CAN), Agatha/Rebecca (BRA)-Hollas, /Remmelg (EST)
MEN’S TOURNAMENT
First qualifying round: Huerta/Huerta (ESP)-Luini/Varenhorst (NED) 0-2 (15-21, 15-21), Vinicius/Heitor (BRA)-Elazar/Cuzmiciov (ISR) 2-0 (31-29, 21-16 ), Wang/Li (CHN)-Krattiger/Breer (SUI) 0-2 (12-21, 14-21), Pedrosa/Campos (POR)-Aye/Aye (FRA) 2-0 (21-18, 21 -18), Mol/Sunde (NOR)-Arthur/Adrielson (BRA) 2-1 (21-18, 24-26, 15-10), Ermacora/Waller (AUT)-Smith/Webber (USA) 2-0 (21-16, 21-16), Sepka/Sedlak (CZE)-Métral/Jordan (SUI) 2-0 (22-20, 21-15), Schalk/Bourne (USA)-Trousil/Westphal (CZE) 2 -0 (21-13, 21-17), Leitner/Pascariuc (AUT)-Grimalt/Grimalt (CHI) 0-2 (18-21, 20-22), Samoilovs/Samoilovs (LAT)-Hannibal/Llambías (URU ) 2-0 (21-16, 21-15), Pedro /Gabriel (BRA)-Cattet/Barthelemy (FRA), Nõlvak/Tiisaar (EST)-Fuller/O’Dea (NZL), Adelmo/Mateus (BRA)-Rossi/Lupo (ITA) 0-2 (17-21, 18-21), Aravena/Droguett (CHI)-Sarabia /Cruz (MEX) 2-1 (21-13, 13-21, 15-13), Pithak/Poravid (THA)-Heidrich/Dillier (SUI) 0-2 (17-21 , 13-21), Stankevicius/Knasas (LTU)-Azaad/Bueno (ARG) 2-0 (21-17, 21-10).
Second qualifying round: Vinicius/Heitor (BRA)-Luini/Varenhorst (NED) 2-1 (18-21, 21-16, 15-12), Pedrosa/Campos (POR)-Krattiger/Breer (SUI) 1-2 (21-17 , 31-33, 21-23), Ermacora/Waller (AUT)-Mol/Sunde (NOR) 2-1 (28-26, 20-22, 15-8), Schalk/Bourne (USA)-Sepka/Sedlak (CZE) 2-0 (21-19, 21-17), Samoilovs/Samoilovs (LAT)-Grimalt/Grimalt (CHI) 0-2 (15-21, 17-21), Fuller/O’Dea (NZL) -Cattet/Barthelemy (FRA)2-0 (21-18, 21-15), Aravena/Droguett (CHI)-Rossi/Lupo (ITA) 2-1 (17-21, 22-20, 15-10), Stankevicius/Knasas (LTU)-Heidrich/Dillier (SUI) 1-2 (21-17, 16-21, 13-15)
Group semi-finals. Pool F: Crabb/Brunner (USA)-Aravena/Droguett (CHI), George/Andre (BRA)-Krattiger/Breer (SUI). Pool E: Kantor/Zdybek (POL)-Grimalt/Grimalt (CHI), Hodges/Schubert (AUS)-Ermacora/Waller (AUT). Pool D: Schachter/Dearing (CAN)-Herrera/Gavira (ESP)-Bello/Bello (ENG)-Bassereau/Lyneel (FRA). Pool C: Pristauz/Seidl (AUT)-Vitor Felipe/Renato (BRA), Evans/Budinger (USA)-Heidrich/Dillier (SUI). Pool B: Popov/Reznik (UKR)-Hörl/Horst (AUT), Diaz/Alayo (CUB)-Vinicius/Heitor (BRA). Pool A: Mol/Berntsen (NOR)-Schalk/Bourne (USA), Pedro Solberg/Guto (BRA)-Fuller/O’Dea (NZL)
