Olsztyn, Poland, July 23, 2017 - Talita Antunes and Larissa Franca of Brazil regained their winning ways on the center court at the Crooked Lake (Lake Ukiel or Krzywe Lake) venue here Sunday to capture the women’s gold medal at the US$300,000 Warmia Mazury Olsztyn Open.
With their 2-1 (20-22, 21-18, 16-14) win in 50 minutes over third-seeded Sarah Pavan and Melissa Humana-Paredes, the top-seeded Talita and Larissa returned to the top of the Warmia Mazury Olsztyn Open failing to validate their 2015 Crooked Lake gold medal finish by place second in 2016 after losing the title match to Germans Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst.
Sunday’s win marked the second win this season for the Brazilians over Pavan and Humana-Paredes as Talita and Larissa defeated the Canadians two weeks ago in the Gstaad Major semi-final in Switzerland.
With the gold medal match being played in a steady rain, Talita and Larissa shared the $20,000 first-place prize while the Canadians split $16,000 for second-place.
Due to a right shoulder injury suffered by Kerri Walsh Jennings, Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda "Duda" Lisboa of Brazil claimed the Warmia Mazury Olsztyn Open bronze medal here Sunday via forfeit over the three-time Olympic and world champion Kerri Walsh Jennings and her American partner Nicole Branagh
With the forfeit victory, the fourth-seeded Agatha and Duda split the US$10,000 third-place prize while 24th-seeded Walsh-Jennings and Branagh shared $8,000 for their best FIVB World Tour finish in three events this season. The Americans had to win a country quota and qualifying match Wednesday to advance to the Main Draw.
With Warmia Mazury Olsztyn Open being a “preview” event for 2017 FIVB World Championships, all four pairs in the “final four” have qualified for the $1-million event where play begins next Friday in the Austria capital of Vienna and concludes August 5 for women and August 6 for men.
Sunday's Results
Women's Bracket