Brazilian volleyball men aiming to emulate 'Queen' Larissa
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 11, 2011 – Reigning FIVB Beach Volleyball Swatch World Tour champion Larissa Franca was crowned Queen of the Beach last Sunday following a thrilling final victory over her regular partner Julianna Felisberta da Silva in Rio de Janeiro.
Larissa counted on the help of Vivian Cunha to defeat Juliana and Talita Antunes in straight sets (21-16, 21-14) in the concluding match of the 13th edition of the annual individual competition. It is the second time Larissa has won the tournament, the top setter and spiker of the 2010 season having previously been crowned at Ipanema Beach in Rio in 2007.
"It was really weird seeing Juliana on the other side of the net after several years as a partnership," she said. "However, I was calm as I knew exactly what I could expect with Vivian as we had played together in 2008. It was good knowing each other better and being able to show my quality."
"Juliana is an important part of everything I have won in my career," she added of her usual team-mate. "This crown belongs to her too."
Larissa advanced to the final match after winning Group A, where she overcame Talita, Vivian and Maria Clara Salgado. Juliana topped Group B, defeating Carolina Salgado, Val Leao and Maria Elisa Antonelli, herself a former Queen of the Beach.
"It is a huge honour having Larissa as a partner and it was special having her as a rival in this tournament," Juliana said. "She played better than I did and deserved to be crowned. Talita and I played a good first set but missed some good opportunities."
It is the men's turn to compete this weekend for the right to join Larissa on the throne. One of the highlights of the tournament will be the third and last match of Pool B in which former Olympic champions Ricardo Santos and Emanuel Rego will reunite for the first time in over a year. They will face pool mates Pedro Cunha and defending champion Harley Marques.
"The King of the Beach is a special tournament as everyone plays with a sense of enjoyment," Emanuel said on Thursday. "Even if it is a fun tournament, every player gives his best and given that we've got the top Brazilian players together, it will be a hard-fought event for sure."
Pool A will comprise the 2010 runner-up Marcio Araujo as well as Alison Cerutti, Bruno Schmidt and debutant Thiago Barbosa, who won 2010 Brazilian National Tour with Pedro Cunha.
"I have never played the King of the Beach and I am expecting a fun tournament," Thiago said. "As an athlete, I always play my best, but, as the King of the Beach is an individual competition, I believe that luck is important as well."
In the first round, players will team up with their pool-mates in 21-point, single-set matches. The best player from each group will advance to the final match, where they will be able to choose any partner, save for their regular team-mate.
In 2010, Harley Marques claimed his first crown after teaming up with Pedro Salgado in the final match and defeating Marcio Araujo, and Alison Cerutti 2-1 (16-21, 21-17, 15-11).
First round Pool A - Thiago/Alison v Bruno/Marcio Pool B – Ricardo/Cunha v Emanuel/Harley Pool A – Thiago/Bruno v Alison/Marcio Pool B – Emanuel/Cunha v Ricardo/Harley Pool A – Thiago/Marcio v Alison/Bruno Pool B – Ricardo/Emanuel v Cunha/Harley
Queens of the Beach 1999 – Shelda Bede 2000 – Sandra Pires 2001 – Sandra Pires 2002 – Ana Paula Henkel 2003 – Shaylyn Bede 2004 – Val Leao 2005 – Juliana Felisberta 2006 – Shaylyn Bede 2007 – Larissa Franca 2008 – Talita Antunes 2009 – Sandra Pires 2010 – Maria Elisa Antonelli 2011 – Larissa Franca
