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Dubai: Canadian team Annie Martin and Marie-Andree Lessard were hoping to continue their winning ways after defeating higher-seeded pairs in the Dubai leg of the $350,000 SWATCH FIVB World Tour.
The 21st-seeded pair posted a 21-15 and 21-17 win over Mathilde Giordano and Virginie Sarpaux of France and are scheduled to challenge top-seeded Nicole Branagh and Kerri Walsh of the United States for a place in the semifinals.
Branagh and Walsh advanced as expected to the fourth-round along with third-seeded Jen Boss and April Ross, also from the United States, after they defeating Sanne Keizer and Marleen Van Iersel of the Netherlands 21-14 and 21-15 in 45 minutes. The 27-year old Martin, who placed fifth at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, said: "This is only our second event together, so we are excited about advancing with a chance to earn a berth in the semi-finals."
"Canada has only had one women's team in a SWATCH semifinal, so we would like to become the second," added the 30-year old Lessard, who is playing in her 100th FIVB-sanctioned event.
She added: "It will be tough, but at least we have a slight edge tomorrow with overall team experience."
Lessard was referring to Branagh and Walsh, who are playing in their first Beach Volleyball tournament together after competing with different partners to earn berths in the Beijing Olympic Games.
While Walsh and May-Treanor won their second Olympic gold medal in Beijing, Branagh placed fifth with Elaine Youngs.
Overall, Lessard and Martin (71 FIVB events) have combined for 171 international events while Branagh (26) and Walsh (64) have competed in 90 SWATCH events.
In the men's event Brazilians Harley Marques and Pedro Salgado continued their winning ways with a pair of victories. Seeded first in the 32-team men's Main Draw, Harley and Salgado scored wins over teams from Oman and Brazil.
The wins mean the pair face Adrian Gavira Collado and Raul Mesa as the Spaniards posted victories over pairs from Great Britain and Venezuela.
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