Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, a celebrated venue in beach volleyball, is gearing up to host the ninth Elite event of the 2025 Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. This tournament, running from Wednesday, September 24, to Sunday, September 28, marks Rio`s second time hosting an Elite stop since the tour`s inception and the fourth of five Brazilian Elite events this year. The women`s competition kicks off with eight qualification matches on Wednesday, followed by main draw pool play on Thursday.
Carol Solberg`s Return
When the Beach Pro Tour first visited Rio last November, it witnessed the memorable golden farewell of the legendary duo Carol Solberg and Barbara Seixas. This year, Carol returns, partnered with Rebecca Cavalcanti, seeking further glory. Other medalists from the 2024 Elite16 tournament are also set to compete.
Pool B Highlights
Carol and Rebecca, ranked second globally, are seeded 11th in the Rio main draw. They begin their Pool B journey against USA’s Julia Donlin and Lexy Denaburg. Also in Pool B, second-seeded Latvian two-time Olympians Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova, currently world number three, will face a qualified team.
Pool A Overview
The top-seeded team, Brazil`s Thamela Coradello and Victoria Lopes, world number one and bronze medalists at Rio 2024, lead Pool A. Having already secured two gold and one silver medal on the Beach Pro Tour this year, they will open Pool A play on Thursday morning against a qualifier. The other Pool A match features Spanish Olympians Daniela Alvarez and Tania Moreno against Austria’s world number eight team, Dorina Klinger and Ronja Klinger.
Pool E Contenders
USA’s Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft, silver medalists at both last year`s Rio Elite16 and last week`s Joao Pessoa Elite, will start their tournament against a qualifier in Pool E. The American pair currently holds the fourth spot in the World Ranking. Germany’s Svenja Muller and Cinja Tillmann, ranked seventh worldwide, are also in this pool and will compete against a qualified opponent.
Pool C Dynamics
Swiss Olympians Anouk Verge-Depre and Zoe Verge-Depre, who have medaled in four of their last six Tour appearances and are ranked sixth globally, headline Pool C. French Olympians Clemence Vieira and Aline Chamereau will compete against Italy’s Claudia Scampoli and Giada Bianchi in the other known Pool C match.
Pool D Action
Reigning world champion Kelly Cheng, with new partner Molly Shaw, recently claimed their first Beach Pro Tour gold in Joao Pessoa. They will begin their Rio campaign in Pool D against Brazil’s Vitoria Rodrigues and Hegeile Almeida. The pool`s top seeds are Italy’s Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth, world number five, who secured their first gold together at the Hamburg Elite in August.
Pool F Outlook
In Pool F, Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalists Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson of Canada look to regain their winning momentum after their Montreal Elite gold last month. Veteran Brazilians Talita Antunes and Taiana Lima, both in their 40s, aim for their first Beach Pro Tour podium finish of the year.
Qualification Rounds
Eight women`s qualification matches on Wednesday, starting at 11:20 local time (14:20 UTC), will determine the final main draw spots. The qualifying bracket includes strong contenders such as Paris 2024 Olympians Monika Paulikiene & Aine Raupelyte (Lithuania), Lezana Placette & Alexia Richard (France), and Katja Stam & Raisa Schoon (Netherlands). Three-time Olympian and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Taliqua Clancy (Australia) will also compete in the qualifiers with Jana Milutinovic. Marie-Sara Stochlova (Czechia), a Paris 2024 Olympian, and her teammate Marketa Svozilova are top-seeded in the qualification bracket.
Path to Medals
The main draw commences Thursday morning with a modified pool play format. Three teams from each pool will advance to the elimination rounds, culminating in Sunday`s medal matches in Rio de Janeiro.
Oliver Wrenwick