Brazilian teams have no answer to Samoilovs and Smedins

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Samoilovs and Smedins will be aiming for another gold in Poreč next week. Photocredit: Andreas Langreiter.

Revenge was sweet for Latvian sensations Aleksandrs Samoilovs and Janis Smedins this weekend as they dethroned Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt to win the Olsztyn Grand Slam in Poland.

Last year’s tournament saw the Brazilians batter the Europeans in straight sets in the quarterfinals on their way to claiming gold and a big slice of the US 400,000 in prize money.

However, 12 months later the tables were turned on Alison/Bruno as Samoilovs and Smedins produced a stunning victory in the final.

The Latvians, roared on by their fans, took a tight first set 21-19 but then ran away with the game in the second set 21-15. It was their 10th gold medal together as a partnership and their fifth in the last 12 months which included the European Championships in Klagenfurt last August and, more recently the Antalya Open last month.

Samoilovs and Smedins saw off the challenge of not just one but FOUR Brazilian teams on their way to gold as well as Spanish stars Herrera/Gavira in the second round! That is some performance. Take a bow, gentleman!

After missing out on bronze in the smart Major Hamburg, a silver for Alison/Bruno was the Brazilians’ third medal in their last four tournaments.

But they were not the only South Americans with medals around their necks as they were joined on the podium by fellow countrymen Guto/Saymon, following their win over American duo Casey Patterson and Jake Gibb in the bronze medal match.