Fourth-seeded Xue & Xia also needed three sets to get the job done in the bronze medal match against second-seeded Taryn Kloth & Kristen Nuss of the United States. In this case, both of the first two sets were decided in the overtime before the Chinese pair prevailed in the tie-breaker for a 2-1 (22-20, 20-22, 15-12) upset.
They recovered from an early six-point deficit to win the first set. In the second, Xue & Xia were 19-16 behind, but scored four in a row to reach match point, only to allow the Americans the next three points and prompt a third-set decider, in which they took control of the scoreboard after 5-5 and pushed forward to celebrate the victory and the team’s third Beach Pro Tour podium, after the Itapema Challenge gold and the Montreal Elite16 bronze earlier this year. Xue led the Chinese team with 24 points in the match, including four aces and four kill blocks, while Nuss delivered the match high of 25 points for the American team.
In the semifinals earlier on Sunday, Carol & Barbara and Kloth & Nuss also engaged in a three-set battle, which finished at 2-1 (21-16, 18-21, 15-11) the Brazilians’ way with 29 points from Carol, while Duda & Ana Patricia downed Xue & Xia in straight sets, 2-0 (21-16, 22-20), with a 21-point match high from Duda.
