Patrick Heuscher / Stefan Kobel Switzerland (5) def. John Child / Mark Heese Canada (20) 28-26, 21-18 (1:01)

·           Switzerland’s Stefan KOBEL and Patrick HEUSCHER survived a Canadian set-ball at 25-26 in the first set, to edge John CHILD and Mark HEESE 2-0 (28-26, 21-18) in Pool E of the Men’s Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  KOBEL and HEUSCHER, seeded fifth in this Olympic tournament, had already blown six set-points of their own, before HEUSCHER made a spectacular dig and got up for a kill, to clinch the final deciding point of the first set.  The Canadians, bronze medallists in Atlanta and fifth in Sydney, are seeded 20th in Athens. They outserved their opponents, with two aces to none and trailed only slightly in blocking (two stuffs to three).  But the Swiss were vastly more efficient in digging and attacking.

Julien Prosser / Mark Williams Australia (17) def. Dain Blanton / Jeff Nygaard United States (8) 21-16, 21-14 (0:39)

·           Australia's Julien PROSSER / Mark WILLIAMS gave a reality check to any dreams Dain BLANTON may have been having of retaining the Olympic title he won four years ago in Sydney.  PROSSER / WILLIAMS shut out BLANTON and partner Jeff NYGAARD 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) in just 42 minutes play as the opening day of Pool E concluded in the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  The USA have won all the men's Olympic Beach Volleyball gold medals since the sport was introduced to the Games in 1996.  The Australians, seeded just 18th in the Olympic tournament, outblocked the eighth-seeded Americans with three stuffs to none and were also more efficient in their attack as they sailed to a comfortable and upset victory.

Patrick Heuscher / Stefan Kobel Switzerland (5) vs. Julien Prosser / Mark Williams Australia (17)

Dain Blanton / Jeff Nygaard United States (8) vs. John Child / Mark Heese Canada (20)

Julien Prosser / Mark Williams Australia (17) vs. John Child / Mark Heese Canada (20)

Patrick Heuscher / Stefan Kobel Switzerland (5) vs. Dain Blanton / Jeff Nygaard United States (8)