French beach volleyball pair Rémi Bassereau and Calvin Aye have reached a major milestone in their partnership by advancing to the semifinals of the 2025 Beach Pro Tour’s Baden Challenge. This marks their best performance to date in a premier international tournament, less than a year into their collaboration.

Their journey to the semifinals was anything but easy. In the Round of 16, they survived a dramatic three-set battle against the German duo of Paul Henning and Lui Wüst with scores of 21-19, 19-21, 16-14. They then showcased their growing synergy in a commanding straight-set win over Ukraine’s Sergiy Popov and Eduard Reznik (21-16, 21-18) in the quarterfinals.

Now, they are set to face Sweden’s Jacob Hölting Nilsson and Elmer Andersson on Sunday at 11:00 local time (09:00 GMT) at the Thermalstrandbad in Baden, Austria. The Swedish team has already notched two podium finishes this season, making them tough competition.

The other semifinal matchup features Americans Chase Budinger and Miles Evans against Germany’s Olympic silver medalists Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler. Both teams are aiming to return to the spotlight after over a year without reaching a semifinal.

The Baden Challenge plays a crucial role in the 2025 Beach Pro Tour calendar, providing teams a chance to climb the international rankings. The final match is scheduled for Sunday at 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT).

With their momentum building, Bassereau and Aye are not only chasing a final appearance but aiming for their first-ever podium finish — a promising sign of what may lie ahead for the French tandem.

Read more on the official Volleyball World website.