Vitoria, Brazil (February 2nd, 2000) – The eight spots for the Main Draw
of the Women’s Vitoria Open, the second stage of World Tour 2000 and part
of the Olympic Qualification process, are already defined. Magda/Minello,
Alexandra/Monica Paludo and Monica/Ana Paula from Brazil, the Cubans
Fernandez Grossat/Larrea Peraza, Tokuno/Kusuhara from Japan, the Mexicans
Gaxiola/Galindo, the Chinese Zhang Jingkun/Tian Jia and Pangka/Arlaisuk
from Thailand joined the 24 teams already placed in the main draw. The
surprise was the elimination of top seeded team Hanley/Reno (USA)
The three Brazilian pairs that advanced to the Main Draw won all their
matches yesterday and today in the Qualification tournament. Magda/Minello
defeated Claudia/Ana Richa (BRA); Hanley/Reno (USA), and Gaxiola/Galindo
(MEX); Alexandra/Monica Paludo had a bye and beat Nakano/Tsuchiya (JPN)
and Pangka/Arlaisuk (THA); and MÂnica/Ana Paula had a bye and defetead
Schritter/Wood (USA) and Byberg/Larsen (NOR).
For the second straight time in Brazilian stages of World Tour (Salvador
99 and Vitoria 2000), Pangka/Arlaisuk the tandem from Thailand advanced to
the Main Draw aftrer three matches against Brazilian teams. They won their
first match against Lopez/Nessa and then lose their following match to the
strong team formed by Monica, silver medal in the beach volley tournament
of the Atlanta. Olympic Games, and Ana Paula, bronze medal in the indoor
volleyball competition at the same event In their third match they beat
Fonseca/Rejane.
The Cuban team, 20th seeded in the qualification tournament made the
success of the day by advancing to the Main Draw. Fernandez Grossat, who
is playing in her first World Tour event, and Larrea Peraza who qualified
for her fist Main Draw since 1998 defetead their three opponents:
Yanchulova/Yanchulova, from Bulgaria; Canadians Solecki/Tough (CAN), and
Austin/Oliver (ENG).
Tokuno/Kusuhara (JPN) defetead Fonseca/Rejane (BRA), then lose to
Byberg/Larsen (NOR) and beat Schritter/Wood (USA) and Austin/Oliver (ENG).
To advance to the Main Draw, the Chinese Zhang Jingkum/Tian Jia passed by
Ivanise/Tania (BRA), lost to Austin/Oliver (ENG), defetead two Canadian
teams, Broen Ouellette/Loussier and Solecki/Tough, and finally scored
against the Norwegians Byberg/Larsen. Gaxiola/Galindo (MEX) defetead two
Canadian teams Barry/Rybinski and Drakich/Russo, lost their third match to
Magda/Minello (BRA) and beat Yanchulova/Yanchulova (BUL).
The big surprise of the day was the elimination of the Americans
Hanley/Reno, top seeded team of the Qualification Tournament. They lost
their first match to Magda/Minello (BRA), then defeated the compatriots
Mason/Busch but lost again to Fonseca/Rejane (BRA).
Tomorrow, at 9:00 AM, 32 teams will be fighting for the title of the
competition, the points in the Olympic Qualification Ranking and the
prize-money/bonus pool of US $150,000. Shelda/Adriana Behar (BRA), three
times World Tour Champions (97-99), gold medal in the Pan-American Games
(Winnipeg 99), World Champions (Marseille 99) are the favorites to win the
World Tour 2000 opening tournament. Sandra Pires/Adriana Samuel (BRA),
gold and silver medalists in the Atlanta Olympic Games, MÂnica
Rodrigues/Ana Paula (BRA), Masakayan/Youngs (USA), finalist of the last
stage of the 1999 World Tour in Salvador, Davis/Jordan (USA), second team
in the FIVB Technical Ranking and Cook/Pottharst (AUS), bronze medallist
in Atlanta 1996 are also strong bets for a place on the podium.
Vitoria Open Press Room: 55 27 315-2704/2712 – E-mail:
marbraga@mandic.com.br
Complete results can be found at the FIVB official website:
http://www.fivb.ch/Beach/WorldTour/2000/Women/