Xue Chen/Zhang Xi Fail to Enter Final of China Shanghai Open
China’s only hope to win the gold medal at the China Shanghai Jinshan Open was broken as Xue Chen and Zhang Xi were defeated by top-seeded Juliana Felisberta Silva and Larissa Franca in straight sets in one of the semifinals here on Saturday.
Juliana and Larissa advanced to the finals with a 26-24 and 21-14 win in 43 minutes over third-seeded Xue and Zhang in a match that featured former China Shanghai Jinshan Open champions.
Juliana and Larissa, who advanced to the semi-finals with a 21-15 and 21-13 win in 43 minutes earlier Saturday over sixth-seeded Tamsin Barnett and Natalie Cook of Australia, won the 2005 Jinshan crown and the Chinese were the gold medal winners in 2006 when Xue was only 17.
Juliana and Larissa will play against fourth-seeded Talita Antunes and Renata Ribeiro for the $28,000 first-place prize. Talita and Renata, who snapped a seven-match losing streak to Juliana and Larissa Friday with a 21-19 and 21-19 victory in the winner’s bracket quarter-finals, advanced to their 10th SWATCH FIVB World Tour gold medal match by defeating fifth-seeded Shelda Bede and Ana Paula Connelly of Brazil 17-21, 21-17 and 15-7 in 48 minutes.
Shelda and Ana Paula, who had to win three elimination matches to reach the semi-finals, dropped a 21-13 and 24-22 decision to Talita and Renata in the third-round of the winner’s bracket Friday.
“That a great win for us,” said the 26 year old Renata. “Shelda and Ana Paula will make a serious run at us for the second Brazilian berth in the Olympics. They are so experienced and competent on the sand. Shelda and Ana Paula played great in the first set, but once we calmed down, we were able to play better and eliminated our mistakes.”
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