08/08/2019 23:00
Pre-favourites cruise to quarterfinals in Vaduz
2019 World Tour 1-Star - Vaduz
Vaduz, Liechtenstein, August 8, 2019. The weather on the second day of the FIVB World Tour 1-Star event in Vaduz, aka Beacharena 2019, was great. The matches were too and the scenery was unique so far. Fortunately, the organisers of the Beacharena are used to having a full house but not on a Thursday. Vaduz felt more like Frankfurt and was exceptionally loud and atmospheric. The number of spectators was a pleasing and unprecedented 4,000 across the day. The first quarter-finalists are known but all 32 teams still have a chance to make it among the top eight of the tournament.
Women – Japanese teams in fine form
The two Japanese teams Sayaka Mizoe/Suzuka Hashimoto, seeded number 1, and their compatriots Kaho Sakaguchi/Reika Murakami, number 2 of the tournament, went straight into the quarter-finals. The no. 3 seeds, Dutchwomen Julia Wouters (pictured above)/Katja Stam, who have already won a silver and a bronze medal on the World Tour this year, did the same as the Japanese teams. The Cypriots Manolina Konstantinou/Mariota Angelopoulou (No. 13) also left a clear impression. They also defeated the home team Ramona Kaiser/Laura Marxer in the first match, anything but clear, but still 2-0 (21-18, 22-20). The Liechtenstein team played all game long almost even, but had to surrender to the more experienced Cypriots. Tomorrow at 12:00 the hosts have a last chance to advance in the competition against the English duo Victoria Palmer/Jessica Grimson.
Men – Austrians reign supreme
There have also been no major surprises in the men’s competition so far. The Austrians Florian Ertl/Johannes Kratz, who made their way into the Main Draw after qualifying, continued their upward trend and went straight into the quarter-finals. The 24-year-old Florian Ertl and Johannes Kratz, who is one year younger than his partner, attracted attention lately with a second and fourth place in the last two tournaments they contested in Pinarella di Cervia and Ljubljana. Against the Dutchmen Mees Blom/Yorick de Groot (no. 2 of the tournament) they had to go over three sets and fight hard, but kept the better end for themselves: 2-1 (19-21, 26-24, 15-12).
Moritz Fabian Kindl of Austria was one of the standout performers on Thursday in Vaduz.
The other Austrian team Moritz Fabian Kindl/Mathias Seiser is also already in the quarterfinals. The Dutch national team Ruben Penninga/Jasper Bouter lived up to their number 1 seed and moved straight to the quarterfinals as well just as Mariusz Prudel/Mikolaj Miszczuk of Poland, seeded at no. 4, did.
Home heroes Manuel Gahr/Maximilian von Deichmann had to admit defeat to the Norwegians Svein Oddmund Solhaug/Jonas Tomter after a long, close fight. The Liechtenstein players enjoyed great support from the local fans, who cheered for them loudly. Nevertheless, it was not enough. Tomorrow at 17:00 they still have a chance to stay in the competition when playing against New Zealand’s Thomas Hartles/Alani Nicklin.
Click here for further information or visit the official website www.beacharena.li.
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