Women eyeing medals while men strive for semis

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Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst will be roared on by the home crowd today. Photocredit: Stefan Moertl.

It’s Saturday! And it’s crunch time at the Rothenbaum as the smart Major Hamburg reaches its exciting climax on women’s final day.

Winners will be crowned and medals will be awarded – and guess what? The sun is shining on the sand on Center Court on a day that will witness seven sensational matches and entertain thousands of wild beach volleyball fans!

If you didn’t see the news late last night, there was a dramatic twist in the men’s tournament as Lars Flüggen and Markus Böckermann forfeited their place in the quarters due to injury. That gave Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Konstantin Semenov a direct ticket to the semis.

That means the first match on Center Court today is an all-American classic as Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena take on Jake Gibb and Casey Patterson – kick-off is at 10.45.

Then at noon it’s the first of the two gripping women’s semifinals and home hopes are pinned on Hamburg favorites Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst. Standing in their way are America’s April Ross and Kerri Walsh Jennings. Arrive early to grab a seat because there won’t be room to swing a cat on Center Court as the Germans get ready to cheer their girls into the final.

There won’t be a spare seat on Center Court today! Photocredit: Daniel Grund.

Whoever wins that, however, will need to beat a Brazilian team in the final as two incredible teams from the all-conquering South American beach volleyball mecca, Agatha/Barbara – the reigning world champions – and Larissa/Talita take each other on at 1pm.

At 2pm we’ll know our women’s finalists but there’s no rest for the wicked as the final two men’s quarterfinals begin with Holland’s Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen taking on Spain’s Herrera/Gavira, and an hour later it’s men’s reigning Brazilian world champions – Alison Cerutti/Bruno Schmidt – against Mexicans Juan Virgen and Lombardo Ontiveros.

When the sand settles after those two epics we have the women’s bronze medal match at 4pm before the grand finale at Center Court live at five!

The atmosphere on Center Court will reach fever pitch and it’s going to be a 100mph day so stick with us on our live streams and social channels for all the latest news!

Bring it onnnnnnnn!

Can Brazil’s Alison/Bruno reach Sunday’s semifinals today? Photocredit: Joerg Mitter.