GSTAAD, SWITZERLAND — Chilean cousins Esteban and Marco Grimalt produced the performance of their careers so far to win the Beach Pro Tour Elite Gstaad, Switzerland.
The duo secured their first Beach Pro Tour title and an iconic cowbell trophy with a straight sets (21-19, 22-20) win over Czech Republic’s Ondrej Perusic and David Schweiner.
It was even sweeter for the South American pair having lost to their European rivals earlier in the event – a favourite of the athletes, 1km above sea level in the Swiss Alps.
A victorious Esteban said: “Last year, after the Olympics, Marco did a surgery in his knee. We took a long time to come back.
“Now, after a long trip, two-and-a-half months competing in different tournaments, at this, the most beautiful venue in the world, with the best atmosphere, it’s crazy – it’s a dream come true, all the effort. This is not just us. This is our whole team in Chile, and in Chile we are going to celebrate.”
In a classic third-place match, Dutch duo Steven van der Velde and Christiaan Varenhorst came from a set down to beat 2016 Olympic champion Bruno Oscar Schmidt and his Brazilian teammate Saymon Barbosa Santos.
The South Americans staged a miraculous comeback to take the first set but the Netherlands pair came up with the goods in the second and decider to secure third spot on the podium.
Defender Van der Velde said: “Sadly I’m used to losing the semis so far, but in the end, we are just so happy to get a medal. You don’t get that many, so I am really enjoying it.
“We had to work really hard, it was a really tough game, and we’re happy to bring a cowbell home. I haven’t won that many yet. This is for sure a really sweet one. It’s really nice to fight that hard and get that win.”
Super Sunday to decide women’s title
The battle to win the coveted cowbells continues on Sunday as the curtain comes down on the women’s event.
In the first semi-final, scheduled at 10:00 CEST, newly-crowned world champions Duda Lisboa and Ana Patricia Silva face Latvia’s Anastasija Kravcenoka and Tina Graudina.
In the second semi, scheduled for 11:00 CEST, Olympic 2020 silver medals from Australia, Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar take on Brazil’s Carolina Salgado and Barbara Seixas.
The winners will progress to the final, which is scheduled for 16:00 CEST on centre court, live on Volleyball World TV.
