The Brazilian pairs of Emanuel Rego/Ricardo Santos and Harley Marques/Pedro Salgado are the first to reach the semi-finals at this week's SWATCH FIVB World Tour after both teams won two matches each here Friday in the US$350,000 Hyundai Open Barcelona.
Both Brazilian teams defeated Beach Volleyball teams from Europe as the top-seeded Emanuel and Ricardo scored a 21-17 and 21-8 victory in 42 minutes over fourth-seeded Igor Kolodinsky and Dmitri Barsouk of Russia while the third-seeded Harley and Salgado downed second-seeded Julius Brink and Christoph Dieckmann 21-19, 16-21 and 15-12 win in 64 minutes.
With "final four" spots secured, both Brazilian teams await the final two teams from the contender's bracket with two rounds of elimination matches being played as the Russians and Germans will have an opportunity to reach the semi-finals of the inaugural Hyundai Open Barcelona Saturday afternoon. The medal matches will be played Sunday where the winning team will split the $28,000 first-place prize.
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