2016-07-02 10:40:00 CET
German qualifiers create history to reach final
Laboureur/Sude stun Borger/Büthe in opening game of Super Saturday
History was made AGAIN at the Poreč Major bright and early on Super Saturday as Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude became the first women qualifiers to reach a Swatch Major Series final.
The duo got the job done against fellow Germans and training partners Karla Borger and Britta Büthe to reach their first ever Major or Grand Slam final as a team with a superb straight sets victory on a baking hot Center Court.
In the first set both teams traded some incredible points but, at the second time of asking, Laboureur/Sude broke their opponents’ resistance to take a 1-0 lead.
With a one-set lead the qualifiers continued from where they left off and raced into an impressive lead in the second set. At one point, Laboureur/Sude led by four points over Borger/Büthe rallied and leveled with a stunning point at 19-19.
But that only served to trigger Laboureur/Sude into some sensational beach volleyball and 19th seeds found that little bit extra to triumph 22-20 to spark scenes of celebration between the 26-year-old Chantal and 28-year-old Julia.
They go down in history as only the ninth women’s qualifiers to reach a final on the FIVB World Tour. Can they do it and who will the play? Find out in the next few hours!
For losers Borger/Büthe there was disappointment but they are going all out to secure a bronze medal in the third-placed match which takes place at 15:15 CET.
“Bring it on!” Karla told us afterwards. “We made too many mistakes but we still have one more match to play and we would love it if there were three German teams on the podium.”
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