Rebecca Cavalcanti and Ana Patrícia Ramos seem to be doing just fine as they prepare for the upcoming international season. Guaranteed at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Brazilians won another event of their national tour this weekend in Aracaju.
Playing in front of a crowded stadium, the bronze medalists of last year’s Gstaad Major relied on their chemistry to defeat the new team of Talita Antunes and Carol Salgado in straight sets (21-17, 22-20) and win their third gold medal in just four events played at the 2019-2020 Brazilian Tour.
“It took us a lot of determination to win this one,” Ana Patrícia reacted. “I was really tired after we played three matches on Saturday and the temperature was elevated all week, so it wasn’t easy. But we really wanted it and I think it showed in our play. This determination has become a trademark of us and I hope it continues this way.”
Agatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa, who is a native of Aracaju, secured bronze with a 2-1 (14-21, 27-25, 21-19) triumph over Bárbara Seixas and Carolina Horta.
The Brazilian Tour season will come to an end in the first weekend of April and all Rebecca and Ana Patrícia need to secure the season points title is to play in the tournament, regardless of the finish they get.
It the Brazilian Tour is close to know its female winners, it already has its men’s champions. André Loyola and George Wanderley, who finished third in Aracaju, have built a lead comfortable enough so they’ve already secured the title regardless of what happens in the final stop of the tour.
The team stepped on the podium for the fourth time in the season following a 21-18, 21-16 victory over Allison Francioni and Fabio Bastos in the bronze medal match in Aracaju.
“It means a lot that we were able to win the title before the final event,” André celebrated. “We wish we could play in the final, but we lost in a tough semifinal and prepared to the bronze medal match as if it was worth gold. Our progress makes me really happy as we’ve been trying to incorporate new tools to our game.”
