World beach volleyball, Menegatti-Gottardi in the quarterfinals

With an all-Italian women’s derby, the eighth finals of the blue couples involved in the beach volleyball world championship at the Foro Italico begin.

Menegatti-Gottardi in the quarters

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In the end it was Menegatti / Gottardi who won 2-0 over Scampoli-Bianchin, in a very balanced and hard-fought match right from the start. In the first set both couples are very determined and combative, it is played on a tightrope, with some sporadic attempts to distance themselves, up to 16-16. It is then Gottardi who breaks the balance, first with a great blow of the knuckles (24-23) and then with a dunk on the wall out to close at 25-23. In the second set are Marta and Valentina to lead the game and to take off (14-7), despite the motivation and self-denial of the other blue, and to close with a dig from Gottardi who fixes the score at 21-15. They will see it tomorrow, at 20.00, against the Canadians Bukovec-Brandie who beat the Germans Borger-Sude in the tie-break this morning. “Today’s match against Claudia and Margherita has a special flavor – comments Marta Menegatti – because playing a derby at home is something very fascinating”. She continues: “We were good at tactical and emotional management for almost the entire match and this then allowed us to win.” She concludes: “We are satisfied and very happy”. Valentina Gottardi is already thinking about tomorrow: “Tomorrow’s match will certainly be very hard. Playing a quarter-final is never easy, especially when it comes to a World Cup “.