Vienna's women's beach elite

The A1 Beach Pro Vienna on Heumarkt is now just a few weeks away and the final entry list has been confirmed. Five of the top ten teams in the world rankings are in the main draw and will meet in Vienna for a final showdown before the Olympics. There will also be some well-known names, as well as hopes for the future, among the top ten.

Ana Patrícia/Duda have been leading the FIVB world rankings for some time now. The two Brazilians have already won several Elite16 gold medals, including a victory this season at the Elite16 in Brasilia. The two are also reigning runners-up in the world championship. Their compatriots Agatha/Rebecca will also perform in Vienna. Both Agatha and Rebecca have qualified for the Olympic gamesin the past, with Agatha even earning a Olympic Silver medal with her former partner.

The Australians Mariafe/Clancy will be playing in the Austrian capital for the first time since 2018. Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy won the silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The duo has consistently delivered strong performances on the FIVB World Tour and has been one of the most consistent teams in recent years.

Tanja Hüberli and Nina Brunner, last year's tournament champions in Vienna and therefore reigning European champions, will be competing for the title. In addition, the Swiss women have already achieved several top placings at Elite16 tournaments in recent years, including a gold medal in Tepic 2024.

The reigning European silver medallists Moreno/Alvarez M. will also be coming to the Red Bull Beach Arena on Heumarkt. The Spanish duo were long regarded as up-and-coming hopefuls, but have now established themselves on the big stage and have already proven themselves at several Challenger tournaments. In Vienna, the Spaniards are absolute fan favorites!

Gottardi/Menegatti, who placed fifth at the European Championships in 2023, will also be competing for the title again in Vienna. The duo is known for their strong team dynamics and their ability to quickly adapt to different playing conditions.

Tina and Anastasija from Latvia have already achieved several podium placements at other Elite16 tournaments and have also been crowned European champions in the past. At the Elite16 in Ostrava, the pair already secured the bronze medal in the 2024 season.

Two teams from the USA will compete: Flint/Scoles and Cannon/Kraft. Both teams regularly compete in various Elite16 tournaments. Flint/Scoles even reached the final at last years Elite16 in Montreal and left Canada with a silver medal.

Müller/Tillmann are the highest-ranked german team and are also in the top10 of the FIVB World Rankings. In addition to their joint Elite16 podium finishes, they also secured a third place at the 2022 World Championships in Rome.

This years wildcard was awarded to Klinger/Klinger, curretnly Austria's most successful women's team. In resent years the sisters have proven they can compete at the top in international tournaments, with several gold medals in Future Tournaments already to their credit.

The chinese duo Xia/Xue has dominated the Asian scene for years, with six consecutive titles at the Asian Games. Additionally, they have been successful in international tournaments, securing a bronce medal at the Elite16 in Montreal 2023 and a goldmedal at the BPT Challenge in Itapema.

It is not yet possible to say which women's duo will emerge victorious on July 13. But one thing is certain: beach volleyball at the highest level and a first-class atmosphere await in the heart of Vienna.

See you @ the Beach!