Top-ranked Americans Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes suffered a stunning upset at the Tokyo Olympics, crashing out in straight sets against their unheralded Swiss opponents Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli.
In a crushing blow to the United States' medal hopes, top-ranked American beach volleyball duo Kelly Cheng and Sara Hughes were eliminated from the Tokyo Olympics on Friday, falling in straight sets to the unheralded Swiss pairing of Nina Brunner and Tanja Huberli.
USA Beach Volleyball Duo Ousted from Olympics by Swiss Underdogs
Cheng and Hughes, who entered the Games as the number one seed, suffered a disappointing 21-13, 21-19 defeat at the hands of their Swiss opponents, who had never reached the podium at a major international event before.
The match was a tale of two halves, with the Americans dominating early on but fading as the Swiss duo grew in confidence. Cheng and Hughes took an early 8-4 lead in the first set, but Brunner and Huberli fought back to level at 11-11 and eventually won by a comfortable eight-point margin.
The second set was a tighter affair, with both teams trading points. However, the Swiss duo managed to break away towards the end, winning two crucial points to take the set 21-19 and seal their passage to the quarterfinals.
The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Cheng and Hughes, who had been one of the favorites to reach the podium. The pair had won three gold medals on the FIVB World Tour in the lead-up to the Olympics and had high hopes of adding an Olympic medal to their collection.
However, their hopes were dashed by Brunner and Huberli, who played with determination and skill to pull off the upset. The Swiss duo were aggressive at the net and made few unforced errors, forcing the Americans to work hard for every point.
Cheng and Hughes were gracious in defeat, praising their opponents for their performance. "They played a great game today," said Cheng. "They were very consistent and made us work for everything. We didn't play our best today, but they deserve all the credit for their win."
The defeat is a disappointment for the United States, which had high hopes of winning a medal in beach volleyball at the Olympics. However, it is a reminder that anything can happen in the unpredictable world of sport. Brunner and Huberli have proven that they are a force to be reckoned with and will be a threat to any team they face in the quarterfinals.
