Grinding for gold gets under way in Moscow Grand Slam

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Laura Ludwig & Kira Walkenhorst and Talita Antunes & Larissa Franca are still in contention for medals at the Moscow Grand Slam. Photo credit: Joerg Mitter/Red Bull Content Pool.

Have you got that Friday feeling? Well the best in beach volleyball better have as it’s crunch time at the Moscow Grand Slam today. It promises to be a rip-roaring day of action on the sand in Russia as the competition really begins to hot up and the pressure begins to mount!

Yep, you guessed it, the knockout rounds are under way, and 24 teams need to be whittled down to just eight ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinals. All eyes will be on securing semifinal spots before the showdown on Sunday when the finals take place and the medal matches are decided. Exciting times indeed!

Well there’s good news for both sets of defending champions, as they remain in contention to win gold again. Spain’s Adrian Gavira & Pablo Herrera and Brazil’s Talita Antunes & Larissa Franca are both still going strong but face typically tough competition to get their hands on first place again.

Men’s top seeds, Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt and their fellow countrymen Pedro Solberg and Evandro Goncalves are already in the hat for the second round, as are the Netherlands’ Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen.

In the women’s half of the tournament, third seeds April Ross & Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA) remain on course of yet another medal this year, while fourth seeds Laura Ludwig & Kira Walkenhorst of Germany are aiming to build momentum ahead of their ‘home’ smart Major Hamburg which starts in a week on Tuesday!

Remember to check back on the Swatch Major Series website on Monday morning for the complete list of medal winners!