After eight years, Brazil returned to the beach volleyball podium at Paris 2024. This Friday (9/8), Ana Patrícia and Duda faced the Canadian duo Melissa and Brandie and won Olympic gold in this sport after having won by 2 sets to 1.
The Brazilians repeat their victory at the Pan American Games in Santiago in 2023. Ana Patrícia and Duda won gold medals against the Canadian pair, 2 sets to 0 last year.
Leaders in the world rankings, Ana Patricia and Duda defeated Tina and Anastasija of Latvia in the quarterfinals and Australia’s Mariafe and Clancy in the semifinals en route to the final.
First set
The Canadians started the match better. On the counterattack, Melissa scored two points in a row and put the Brazilian duo five points ahead.
The Canadian duo continued to force attacks against the Brazilians and ended up putting six points on Ana Patrícia and Duda. Despite the disadvantage, the natives of Minas Gerais and Sergipe reacted and reduced the difference in result, which was 16 x 14 in the final straight of the set.
At the end of the set, Ana Patrícia and Duda increased the pace of the game and turned the situation around, with a result in favor of 18 x 17. The Canadians equalized again shortly after and the match was decided in the details, with the victory of the Brazilian team turned, 26 x 24.
Second set
The contest became even closer in the second set, with the Canadians having to chase the comeback loss. With a confident attack, Ana Patrícia secured two points in a row for the Brazilians to take the lead in a match that was decided point by point.
However, the small advantage was equalized shortly after by the Canadians. Melisse and Brandie called a timeout and came back very well adjusted to defend the balls of the Brazilian duo and took the lead on the scoreboard, placing a difference of six points against Ana Patrícia and Duda.
The Canadians ended up winning the second set with a big difference in the score, 21 x 12. The match ended in a tie-break.
Decisive game
With a spectacular point, Ana Patrícia opened the tie-break, giving the Brazilians the advantage. The Canadians quickly entered the game and put up a fierce fight, but the Brazilian duo continued to have the advantage.
Ana Patrícia and Duda remained focused, despite the tough fight put up by the Canadians. With a five-point lead, the Brazilians had a large advantage to close out the match and win gold.
The temperature of the game rose and Ana Patrícia and Brandie found themselves in confusion in the middle of a fierce duel. The Canadian ended up receiving a yellow card after the confrontation. In a thrilling final, the Brazilians won the long-awaited gold by winning the 15 x 10 tie-break.
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