Comeback Queens of the Mountains April Ross and Alix Klineman secured Swatch Major Gstaad gold to add to their silver medal won at last week’s World Championships in Hamburg.
The American duo eventually saw off the challenge of Brazilians Maria Antonelli and Carolina Solberg Salgado 15-21, 21-17, 15-12 in a thrilling three-set affair on the Gstaadium court 1,050 meters above sea level and net 40,000 US Dollars in prize money.
Losing the first set has been a typical theme for the A-Team in the Swiss Alps, as in four of their seven matches they have trailed in matches. However, they have chosen nerves of steel to bounce back and claim victory.
Maria and Carolina established a lead by winning the opening set, but true to form April and Alix hit back to win the final two sets to give the team their first ever cowbell as a team.
After scooping silver at the World Championships just six days ago, it’s not been a bad week for the Americans.
In the bronze medal match, Ana Patricia Ramos and Rebecca Cavalcanti claimed the final spot on the podium, denying Swiss dreams of a cowbell as Nina Betschart and Tanja Hüberli finished fourth for the second tournament running.
