Alexander Brouwer (left) and Robert Meeuwsen are chasing their first World Tour gold.
Doha: Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen will try to end their wait for an FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour gold when they take on Oleg Stoyanovskiy and Igor Velichko in the 4-Star Katara Beach Volleyball Cup today.
Dutch pair Brouwer and Meeuwsen won bronze at the 4-Star Hague tournament at the start of the year, but they haven’t won a World Tour gold since they topped the podium in the 3-Star Xiamen tournament in April 2017.
“I think we can certainly step up our game in sideout and service. We can do more tomorrow. We’re playing the Russian guys and we’re looking forward to it,” said Meeuwsen.
Russia’s Stoyanovskiy and Velichko beat USA’s Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena 2-1 (21-19, 21-16) to reach their first World Tour gold medal match as a duo.
Both players have won medals with their previous partners, but they are now guaranteed their first medal as a tandem from their second tournament together.
Meanwhile, the Dutch pair Brouwer and Meeuwsen beat local favourites Cherif Younousse and Tajin Ahmed 2-0 (22-20, 21-18) to reach their first World Tour final of 2018.
The Qataris are chasing a first World Tour medal on home sand and they had the backing of the centre court crowd. However, the 2013 world champions showed they are nearing their best to give themselves the chance to add to the 4-Star Hague bronze medals they won at the start of the year.
“The Qatari guys have been playing well all tournament and they are a really strong team,” Meeuwsen said.
“We prepared well and knew we had to play well to beat them, and it is a big relief to beat them in two.”
“It’s pleasing to know that even when we don’t play at 100 percent we can still win matches,” Brouwer said.
“That gives us confidence, but we’re eager to play better tomorrow.”
It is the fourth time that Doha has hosted an FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour tournament, following competitions in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
