Pool A

Emanuel Rego / Ricardo Santos Brazil (No. 1-seeded team) def. Bjorn Maaseide / Iver Horrem Norway (24) 21-15, 19-21, 15-10 (1:02 duration)

·           Brazil's Ricardo SANTOS and Emanuel REGO, the number one seeds and favourites for the gold medal, survived a three-set scare to overcome Norway's Bjorn MAASEIDE / Iver HORREM 2-1 (21-15, 19-21, 15-10) in Pool A of the men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  The Brazilian pair, reigning World Champions, led throughout the first set to a final 21-15, setting what seemed to be the foundations of a comfortable victory in their opening match at these Olympic Games. But obviously the Norwegians were of a different opinion. MAASEIDE / HORREM came back from an early Brazilian lead in the second set to take charge of matters. At 18-18 the Norwegians capitalised on a service error by SANTOS and a stuff by MAASEIDE on a REGO attack, to make the score 18-20, enough to give them the final 19-21 that forced the match into a tie-break.  Brazil dominated the third set from the very beginning, quickly taking enough of a lead to hold onto and finally turn their fans' misery to joy.

Dax Holdren / Stein Metzger United States (12) def. Andrew Schacht / Josh Slack Australia (13) 22-24, 24-22, 15-13 (1:20)

·           The USA's Dax HOLDREN and Stein METZGER survived an Australian match point, to rally back and defeat Andrew SCHACHT and Joshua SLACK 2-1 (22-24, 24-22, 15-13) in an 83-minute Pool A match in the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  With neither team gaining more than a two-point advantage at any time, the USA lost a set-point at 20-19 in the first set, allowing the Australians the chance to win the set, which they did when SCHACHT scored an ace for a 24-22 set win.  HOLDREN / METZGER  again reached set-point at 20-19 in the second set and again the Australians denied it, losing two match-points of their own, before METZGER scored two aces to force the match into a tie-break.  The USA led throughout the third set, and although the Australians closed in within a point at 13-12, they held their lead to finish the match with a 15-13 win.

Emanuel Rego / Ricardo Santos Brazil (1) vs. Andrew Schacht / Josh Slack Australia (13)

Dax Holdren / Stein Metzger United States (12) vs. Bjorn Maaseide / Iver Horrem Norway (24)

Andrew Schacht / Josh Slack Australia (13) vs. Bjorn Maaseide / Iver Horrem Norway (24)

Emanuel Rego / Ricardo Santos Brazil (1) vs. Dax Holdren / Stein Metzger United States (12)

Pool B

Marcio Araujo / Benjamin Insfran Brazil (2) def. Stephane Canet / Mathieu Hamel France (23) 21-13, 21-14 (0:43)

·           Brazil's Benjamin INSFRAM and Marcio ARAUJO, the number two seeds of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament, sailed past France's Stephane CANET and Mathieu HAMEL 2-0 (21-13, 21-14) in 43 minutes, to climb to the top of Pool B.  It was the first step in what is widely believed will be a road to the podium for the Brazilans.  The French got a slight early lead in the first set, but Brazil took the lead for the first time at 8-7 and never looked back. Far superior in their attacking efficiency, BENJAMIN / MARCIO ARAUJO completely dominated the second set, much to the delight of their numerous fans.

Christoph Dieckmann / Andreas Scheuerpflug Germany (11) def. Juan Rosell / Francisco Alvarez Cuba (14) 21-19, 19-21, 15-10 (1:04)

·           Germany's Christoph DIECKMANN and Andreas SCHEUERPFLUG suruvived an attempted comeback by Cuba's Francisco ALVAREZ / Juan ROSELL, to win their opening match 2-1 (21-19, 19-21, 15-10) in Pool B of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament.  The Cubans were in the lead throughout most of the first set, but the Germans caught up at 15-15 and capitalized on two kills and one stuff by DIECKMANN to break away from 16-16 to 19-16. That gave the Germans enough of an edge to come away with the first set.  Despite trailing for a good part of the second set, Ch. DIECKMANN / SCHEUERPFLUG overtook ALVAREZ / ROSELL to take the lead at 19-18. But a kill and a stuff by ROSELL and an attack on the net by DIECKMANN allowed the Cubans to tie the overall score and force the match into a tie-break.  The Cubans led again, early in the third set, but once more the Germans came back to tie at 5-5 and gradually widen their lead to the final 15-10.  The two teams were pretty much equal on serving, attacking and digging efficiency, but the Germans outblocked the Cubans five stuffs to one.

Marcio Araujo / Benjamin Insfran Brazil (2) vs. Juan Rosell / Francisco Alvarez Cuba (14)

Christoph Dieckmann / Andreas Scheuerpflug Germany (11) vs. Stephane Canet / Mathieu Hamel France (23)

Francisco Alvarez / Juan Rosell Cuba (14) vs. Stephane Canet / Mathieu Hamel France (23)

Marcio Araujo / Benjamin Insfran Brazil (2) vs. Christoph Dieckmann / Andreas Scheuerpflug Germany (11)

Pool C

Martin Laciga / Paul Laciga Switzerland (3) def. Robert Nowotny / Peter Gartmayer Austria (22) 21-14, 21-14 (0:35)

·           Switzerland's LACIGA brothers, Paul and Martin, got off to an excellent start in Pool E of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament, when they defeated Austria's Peter GARTMAYER / Robert NOWOTNY 2-0 (21-14, 21-14) in a mere 33 minutes.  The Swiss, currently the top-ranked European team in the world and seeded fourth for this Olympic tournament, led throughout the match and outplayed the Austrians in serving (three aces to one), attacking (24 kills in 35 attempts to 16/38), blocking (two stuff blocks to one) and digging (nine successful digs to six).

Javier Bosma / Pablo Herrera Spain (15) def. Nikolas Berger / Florian Gosch Austria (10) 21-14, 21-13 (0:44)

·           Spain's Javier BOSMA and Pablo HERRERA defeated Austria's Nikolas BERGER and Florian GOSCH 2-0 (21-14, 21-13) to tie in first place of Pool C of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball Tournament with Switzerland's LACIGA brothers.  The Spaniards scored as many as seven block points (six coming from HERRERA), as they shut out the Austrians with ease. They also outclassed their opponents in attacking and digging.  BOSMA and HERRERA gained early leads in both sets and found little resistance on their way to victory, which brings them closer to a berth in the 16-team Single Elimination Bracket.  GOSCH was a last-minute replacement to BERGER's regular partner, Clemens DOPPLER, who withdrew before the Olympic Games due to injury. The new Austrian pair had competed together in only one international tournament prior to their arrival in Athens.

Martin Laciga / Paul Laciga Switzerland (3) vs. Javier Bosma / Pablo Herrera Spain (15)

Nikolas Berger / Florian Gosch Austria (10) vs. Robert Nowotny / Peter Gartmayer Austria (22)

Javier Bosma / Pablo Herrera Spain (15) vs. Robert Nowotny / Peter Gartmayer Austria (22)

Martin Laciga / Paul Laciga Switzerland (3) vs. Nikolas Berger / Florian Gosch Austria (10)

Pool D

Markus Dieckmann / Jonas Reckermann Germany (4) def. Raul Papaleo / Ramon Hernandez Puerto Rico (21) 21-14, 21-13 (0:39)

·           Germany’s M. DIECKMANN/RECKERMANN outclassed Puerto Rico’s HERNANDEZ/PAPALEO 2-0 (21-14, 21-13), as the first round of men’s Pool D concluded at the Olympic Beach Volleyball Centre.  Despite their seven service errors, the reigning European champions had a total of 12 digs and two block-points that boosted them to gain an easy, 40-minute victory.  M. DEICKMANN/RECKERMANN led throughout both sets, at no point leaving their dominance in doubt.  The result leaves the Germans tied for first place with Sweden’s BERG/DAHL, who had earlier defeated Norway’s KJEMPERUD/HOIDALEN. Norway and Puerto Rico are winless.

Bjorn Berg / Simon Dahl Sweden (16) def. Vegard Hoidalen / Jorre Kjemperud Norway (9) 21-13, 21-18 (0:44)

·           Spectacular digging by Simon DAHL, and a couple of crucial block points by Bjorn BERG, gave Sweden a surprise 2-0 (21-13, 21-18) victory over Norway's Jorre KJEMPERUD and Vegard HOIDALEN in the opening match of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  The two teams fought point-by-point until 7-7 in the first set of the Pool D match, but then the Swedes - helped by a stuff from BERG on KEMPERUD - broke away to sail to a comfortable 21-13 victory, much to the delight of the Swedish fans in the stands.  The Norwegians, seeded ninth in this Olympic tournament, fought back in the second set to keep in touch with the 16th seeded Swedes, and even led briefly at 9-10. But the Swedes came back to tie the score at 10-10 and then broke away thanks to a second stuff by BERG on KJEMPERUD.

Markus Dieckmann / Jonas Reckermann Germany (4) vs. Bjorn Berg / Simon Dahl Sweden (16)

Vegard Hoidalen / Jorre Kjemperud Norway (9) vs. Raul Papaleo / Ramon Hernandez Puerto Rico (21)

Bjorn Berg / Simon Dahl Sweden (16) vs. Raul Papaleo / Ramon Hernandez Puerto Rico (21)

Markus Dieckmann / Jonas Reckermann Germany (4) vs. Jorre Kjemperud / Vegard Hoidalen Norway (9)

Pool E

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)

Pool F

Gershon Rorich / Colin Pocock South Africa (19) def. Pavlos Beligratis / Thanassis Michalopoulos Greece (6) 21-16, 24-26, 15-10 (1:18)

·           South Africa's Gershon RORICH and Colin POCOCK beat Greece's Thanassis MICHALOPOULOS and Pavlos BELIGRATIS 2-1 (21-16, 24-26, 15-10) in Pool F of the Men's Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament today.  The South African pair, who qualified second to last in the Olympic Qualification rankings, took a very early 5-0 lead in the first set. Although the Greeks quickly caught up at 5-4, the RORICH / POCOCK combination rallied to widen the gap again and maintained the difference until the end of the set.  The second set was a closer affair, with neither of the two opponents gaining more than a two-point advantage until 18-16. The South Africans made it 19-16, but allowed the Greeks to stay alive and tie the score at 20-20. With some spectacular defending, the Greeks finally forced the game into a tie-break at their fourth set-ball, when RORICH tried to tip, but the ball just rolled along the top of the net and dropped just wide.  Previously, RORICH / POCOCK had blown a total of four match-points.  RORICH / POCOCK took a quick three-point lead in the tie-break and kept MICHALOPOULOS / BELIGRATIS at bay, despite an injury sustained by RORICH at 11-8. The South Africans reached their first match-point at 14-9 and finished the match promptly at 15-10.  The continent of Africa is represented for the first time in the Olympic Games in Beach Volleyball since the sport was incorporated into the Olympic programme in 1996.  The result diminishes any aspirations the Greeks may have had of a berth in the Single Elimination Bracket, and allows the South Africans to keep up hopes for an unlikely entry to the top 16.

Mariano Baracetti / Martin Conde Argentina (7) def. Luis Maia / Joao Brenha Portugal (18) 13-21, 21-16, 15-5 (0:55)

·           Argentina’s Mariano BARACETTI and Martin CONDE scored an amazing comeback to edge out Portugal’s Miguel MAIA and Joao BRENHA 2-1 (13-21, 21-16, 15-05), in Pool F of the Men’s Olympic Beach Volleyball tournament.  MAIA and BRENHA, seeded 18th, stunned the 17th-seeded Argentineans when they came away with the first set.  But the South Americans, World Champions in 2001, found the way to come back in the second set, breaking away after 7-7, to lead at first with two points (9-7, 10-8) and then gradually widen the gap (12-9, 16-10).  The tie-break (the first so far in the Olympic Beach Volleyball tournaments) was a walkover, with Argentina gaining an early lead 5-1, which it never relinquished, widening it to 10-4 and 12-5.  BARACETTI and CONDE based their victory on better defending and more successful attacking.  Twice in the last two Olympic Games, MAIA and BRENHA played in the bronze medal matches but failed to get onto the podium.

Pavlos Beligratis / Thanassis Michalopoulos Greece (6) vs. Luis Maia / Joao Brenha Portugal (18) Mariano Baracetti / Martin Conde Argentina (7) vs. Gershon Rorich / Colin Pocock South Africa (19)

Joao Brenha / Luis Maia Portugal (18) vs. Gershon Rorich / Colin Pocock South Africa (19)

Pavlos Beligratis / Thanassis Michalopoulos Greece (6) vs. Martin Conde / Mariano Baracetti Argentina (7)