Finland’s Taru Lahti and Niina Ahtiainen stunned fans and experts alike with a dominant straight-set victory over Brazil’s top-seeded duo Carol Salgado and Rebecca Cavalcanti (21-15, 21-19) during pool play at the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Elite16 in Hamburg.
With this impressive win, Lahti and Ahtiainen secured the top position in Pool D, which granted them an automatic berth in the Round of 12. They are now set to face Germany’s Sandra Ittlinger and Anna-Lena Grüne at the renowned Am Rothenbaum Stadium.
Highlights from Pool Play
- Lahti and Ahtiainen’s upset places them among six undefeated teams moving directly to the next round.
- Brazil's Ana Patrícia Ramos and Eduarda ‘Duda’ Lisboa topped Pool E and will take on Czech duo Markéta Svozilová and Marie-Sára Štochlová.
- Italy’s Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth advanced from Pool F to meet Germany’s Linda Bock and Louisa Lippmann.
Next Stages of the Tournament
The competition intensifies over the weekend with the following schedule:
- Saturday: Round of 12 and quarterfinals.
- Sunday: Semifinals and medal matches.
The Hamburg Elite16 is a pivotal event in the 2025 Beach Pro Tour calendar, allowing participating teams to accumulate crucial ranking points and establish momentum ahead of future tournaments.
To view the official match results and updates, visit the Volleyball World website.
