Double gold as Aussies dominate Nuvali Open
Australia delivered a stunning performance at the AVC Beach Tour’s opening Nuvali Open at the Nuvali Sand Courts in the Philippines, making a clean sweep of both gold medals available. Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan triumphed in the men’s competition, while Stefie Fejes clinched the women’s gold for the second consecutive year, this time with new partner Jasmine Fleming. The Australian teams proved their dominance in a thrilling tournament that showcased their skill, determination, and teamwork.
The victories in both categories were hard-earned, with each final offering a blend of strategy, endurance, and mental toughness. The competition in both the men’s and women’s events was fierce, with Australian teams proving their strength on the international beach volleyball stage.
Women’s Final: Fejes and Fleming Triumph in Thrilling 49-Minute Battle
In the women’s final, Fejes and Fleming faced off against New Zealand’s third-seeded team, Shaunna Polley and Olivia MacDonald. The match was a dramatic encounter that stretched to three sets and lasted an exhausting 49 minutes. Fejes and Fleming eventually came out on top, edging their opponents 2-1 (21-13, 13-21, 17-15), with each set providing a unique challenge.
Fejes, who had already secured a gold medal at this event last year, once again demonstrated her beach volleyball prowess, but it was her partnership with Fleming that truly shone in the final. The duo’s chemistry and resilience were key as they fought through the ebb and flow of the match, refusing to let up when it mattered most.
Earlier in the day, the semi-finals provided their own set of challenges. Fejes and Fleming had to dig deep to overcome Japan’s sixth seeds, Asami Shiba and Reika Murakami, in a two-set match that was far from straightforward. On the other side of the draw, Polley and MacDonald made a statement with a sensational 2-0 win over Australia’s second-seeded team, Lizzie Alchin and Georgia Johnson.
Alchin and Johnson didn’t let the defeat in the semi-final hold them back. In the third-place playoff, the Australian duo bounced back to face Shiba and Murakami again, and after an epic tie-breaker, they triumphed, taking home the bronze medal in another intense contest.
Men’s Final: Burnett and Ryan Lead the Charge for Australia
In the men’s competition, Australia’s dominance was equally clear. Three Australian teams made it to the semi-finals, and it was Paul Burnett and Luke Ryan who came out on top. Burnett and Ryan, fresh off a victory at the Australian Beach Volleyball Tour Finals in Coolangatta, were in exceptional form. They needed only 27 minutes to stun the tournament’s top seeds, D’Artagnan Potts and Jack Pearse, who are also the 2024 Asian champions, with a dominant 2-0 (21-15, 21-13) win in the first semi-final.
In the second semi-final, Australia’s 14th-seeded pair, Ben Hood and Oliver Merritt, made a remarkable run, defeating the previously unbeaten Iranian duo of Amirali GhalehNovi and Bahman Salemiinjehboroun 2-0 (21-18, 21-17). This unexpected result added a twist to the men’s competition, as Hood and Merritt had not been considered among the favourites, yet they demonstrated excellent skill and composure under pressure.
The all-Australian final between Burnett and Ryan and Hood and Merritt was a display of exceptional volleyball. Burnett and Ryan continued their blistering form, securing the men’s title with a 2-0 (21-14, 21-11) victory in straight sets. The win not only gave them the men’s gold but also ensured Australia’s dominance in the event, securing double gold at the Nuvali Open, the second edition of the AVC Beach Tour event.