If you’re down 18-11 then you’re already thinking about the next set or the next match. It’s an almost impossible position. Seven points behind, your opponent just needs to side-out three times. Set, surely, over.
Not if you’re Alix Klineman and April Ross.
The Americans staged a miraculous and remarkable first set recovery, coming back from the dead to stun Swiss heroes Tanja Hüberli and Nina Betschart. Seven points behind with 15 minutes on the clock; seven minutes later 11-18 became 22-20. Did someone call the A-Team?
It was a turnaround that the World Championship silver medalists used for a springboard for a victory that would secure a second successive place in a final.
“We didn’t start the way we would have liked,” said April, stating the absolutely obvious. “I’m proud that we didn’t give up and hopefully the game will wake us up a little.”
For Tanja and Nina the defeat was another painful lesson in a semi-final at a major tournament.
However, the home favorites, who finished fourth at last week’s World Championships, refused to be overly disappointed and now will aim to become only the second Swiss women’s team to win a cowbell on home sand when they contest the bronze medal match.
“We’re still a young team and we’ll learn from this,” said Tanja. “If we continue to play at this level we’ll have chances for other medals.”
The team from Switzerland will face Rebecca Cavalcanti and Ana Patricia Ramos of Brazil in their pursuit of a cowbell at 1.35pm CEST.
April and Alix meanwhile will take on Carol Solberg and Maria Antontelli in the fight for gold after the experienced Brazilians overcame their younger opponents in straight sets in the second semi-final.
The gold medal match takes place at 2.45pm CEST in the final game of this year’s 20th anniversary tournament and you can watch it live on BeachStream.
