Vienna, Austria. The teams contesting the final stage of the HYPO NOE Beach Volleyball Champions Cup have all emerged from this weekend’s action in Graz and Vienna. Julia Radl / Anja Dörfler, Nadine Strauss / Teresa Strauss, Christoph Dressler / Alexander Huber and Clemens Doppler / Alexander Horst had achieved this goal on Saturday in Graz. On Sunday afternoon, Franziska Friedl / Eva Pfeffer, Dorina Klinger / Oda Ulveseth, Robin Seidl / Philipp Waller (pictured) and Tobias Winter / Julian Hörl secured their spots as well while competing at the spusuSPORTinsel in Vienna. EuroBeachVolley 2019 bronze medal winners Martin Ermacora / Moritz Pristauz had to withdraw from the competition after their first match on Sunday due to muscular problems suffered by Ermacora.
After a clean sweep of their matches last week, Seidl / Waller continued their flawless run, as they needed two sets only to claim their duels with Simon Frühbauer / Michael Murauer and Tobias Winter / Julian Hörl. The top match could not take place due to Ermacora’s injury. Tobias Winter / Julian Hörl finished second, thus qualifying for the finals, after a 2-0 victory against Frühbauer / Murauer.
“It was great to play on the Danube Island. The backdrop is very cool, with the tables and seats close to the court. The players like the ambiance. We were able to keep the focus well in both matches,” summed up Seidl. Partner Waller added: “It was very hot again, but it also went very well for us. I am happy with the organisation of the HYPO NOE Champions Cup!”
In the women’s competition, Friedl / Pfeffer lived up to their favourite role, beating Anna Mayr / Birgit Schöttl, Eva Freiberger / Viktoria Fink and also Klinger / Ulveseth in two sets. Thanks to two clear victories, Klinger and her Norwegian interim partner secured the ticket to the final round as well.
The HYPO NOE Beach Volleyball Champions Cup final tournament will take place next Saturday, July 11 on Vienna’s Danube Island. The semi-final duels are already set. The top-seeded Strauss twins will be dealing with Friedl / Pfeffer, while Radl / Dörfler will play Klinger / Ulveseth. Dressler / Huber meet Winter / Hörl and Seidl / Waller take on Doppler / Horst, who sensationally won World Championship silver on the Danube Island three years ago!
