Three German teams started with victories at the Beach Volleyball World Cup in Mexico. Only the third-place finishers in the 2022 World Cup, Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, had to admit defeat in their opening match.
Late on Saturday evening, the duo training in Hamburg, who became German champions in Timmendorfer Strand a month ago, lost to the Americans Alexandra Klineman/Hailey Harward 0-2 (23:25, 14:21). During the group phase we will face the Chinese Jie Dong/Fan Wang (October 8th) and the Brazilians Tainá/Victoria (October 10th).
The German champions Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler, however, prevailed 2-0 (21:7, 21:13) against Noe Aravena and Vicente Droguett from Chile. “That felt extremely good,” said Wickler. “A lot went right today,” added Ehlers and was also happy about the enthusiasm among the Mexican audience. The two players from ETV are the only male starters from Germany. Your other group opponents are the Poles Piotr Kantor/Jakub Zdybek (October 8th) and the Americans Chaim Schalk/Tri Bourne (October 9th).
Ludwig/Lippmann with a confident victory
The other two German women’s teams had previously won their first group games. Laura Ludwig and Louisa Lippmann won 2-0 (21:12 and 21:10) against the Japanese Miki Ishii and Sayaka Mizoe. “It all felt a bit slow, but it’s amazing that we were able to pull through,” said Ludwig after the convincing first victory at an altitude of 2,239 m.
Alongside her partner Lippmann, with whom she won European Championship bronze in Vienna almost two months ago, Ludwig wants to take the next step in her development towards the Olympic Games in Paris in Mexico. The HSV duo will now play on October 8th. against Tochukwu Nnoruga/Franco (Nigeria) and on October 10th. against Carol/Barbara (Brazil).
Sandra Ittlinger and Karla Borger won against Ágatha Bednarczuk and Rebecca Silva 2:1 (21:18, 18:21, 15:12). The duo was happy about the important victory against the experienced Brazilians: “It was a tough fight, and I’m happy that we brought it home. An opening win at the World Cup is just great,” said Ittlinger. The Stuttgart women’s other opponents in the preliminary round are the Americans Sara Hughes/Kelly Cheng (October 8th) and the Mexicans Albarran/Vidaurrazaga (October 10th).
World champions have secured their Olympic ticket
A total of 48 teams for women and men are in the title race. The teams will be divided into twelve preliminary round groups. The respective group winners and runners-up as well as the best four third-placed teams are qualified for the knockout round. The eight remaining third-placed teams compete against four other participants in a “lucky loser round”.
In addition to the gold medal, the world champions for women and men have already secured the Olympic ticket for Paris.
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NDR Info | Oct 7, 2023 | 14:00 clock
