One step away from history. The blues Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo have been so far from the final of the Sardinia Beach Finals, the Cagliari tournament that closes the great international season of outdoor volleyball. The Italian couple lost in the semifinals to the Czechs Ondrej Perusic-David Schweiner only at the tie break (17-21, 21-19, 15-10) after a very tight match. «We won the first set, then in the second they were better at closing it – commented Nicolai -. Even in the tie-break it was a point-to-point battle and we were always attached to the game. They ultimately won both the first and second match against us in two days, so they deserved access to the final. For our part, we gave our best and showed a good game, this gives us a lot of confidence also for the final for third place ».
Nicolai and Lupo are the top couple of our beach volleyball, silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics. For weeks, however, it has been rumored that this one in Cagliari may be the last competition played in tandem. A change of combinations is coming in view of the Paris Games of 2024. The two Azzurri played very well in these Sardinia Finals, proving that they still have a lot to say on the pitch. «Here are the best couples in the world, so no result is to be taken for granted. There is a chance we could lose, however we now have a final for the bronze and as always we will give our best to try to win a medal », Daniele Lupo underlined.
The Azzurri today (7 pm) will challenge the Dutch Steven van De Velde and Christiaan Verenhosrt to win the bronze medal. The title (10pm) will be contended by Norwegians Anders Berntsen Mol and Christian Sandlie Sorum, Olympic champions in Tokyo, and the Czechs Perusic-Schweiner.
In the women’s draw the final for gold (20.30) will see the German Karla Borger-Julia Sude opposed to the Canadian Sarah Pavan-Melissa Humana-Paredes. Previously, the Americans April Ross-Alexandra Klineman and the Russian Nadezda Makroroguzova-Svetlana Kholomina will compete for the bronze. All finals will be broadcast live by Sky.