Seventh-seeded Agatha Bednarczuk and Duda Lisboa triumphed in the $300,000 Itapema Open as the Brazilians won their second gold medal in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour at the Meia Praia Beach this Sunday.
Agatha, a silver medalist of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and Duda, the World Tour top rookie in the same year, were pushed by the support of the Brazilian fans who packed the center court in Itapema to post a 2-0 (21-19, 21-17) victory over Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich and Anouk Vergé-Dépré in the final. Canada’s Heather Bansley and Brandie Wilkerson claimed bronze.
It was the second World Tour gold medal for the 34-year-old veteran and the 19-year-old rising star, who had won the 2017 Rio Open, also in Brazilian soil, and the first medal for the team in the 2017-2018 season. They now have two golds, two silvers and seven bronzes in 14 tournaments together.
“It’s hard to explain how we’re feeling right now,” Agatha said. “The energy of the fans has been amazing during all week and we have our families, several friends and a lot of friends supporting us here, which makes it even more special. It’s awesome that we managed to win in our country again.”
The Brazilians had finished in the top-10 of each of the four World Tour tournaments they have played in 2018, but the absence of a medal was becoming concerning for the team. The team’s return to the international podium for the first time since they won silver in the World Tour Finals last August was considered a relief by Duda.
“We were not happy at all with our results this year and to win this gold medal is a relief, especially with it happening in Brazil,” Duda added. “We were putting a lot of pressure on us because of the results and that was frustrating us a lot. But it’s gone now. We had a very solid week here and we hope it ignites us to win more medals in the next tournaments.”
Author: FIVB
