Tournament in Rome
Beach volleyball duo Müller/Tillmann missed the World Cup final
Canada’s Brandie Wilkerson (r) kept the upper hand against Svenja Müller in Rome. Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP/dpa
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Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann didn’t manage the big coup at the Beach Volleyball World Cup. In the semifinals in Rome, the Canadian opponents were too strong.
Missed the sensation, but not lost hope for bronze: Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann gambled away their chance of reaching the final at the Beach Volleyball World Championships in Rome.
In the semi-finals, Hamburg lost to the favorite Canadians Sophie Bukovec and Brandie Wilkerson 1:2 (15:21, 21:15, 12:15). It was the Germans’ first defeat in the seventh game at the World Cup.
“We were both a little excited. Maybe a little more than the opponents, »said Cinja Tillmann. “The experience of a brandie who has already been to the Olympics twice may also play a role.” Shortly after the game, she described her feelings as “neutral”. “I can just acknowledge that the two were simply better today. I’m looking forward to the next game against them.”
Another medal chance
The 30-year-old and the 21-year-old Svenja Müller now have their second chance at a medal in the game for third place on Sunday (4:00 p.m.): Then the newly formed team meets the Olympic bronze medalists Joana Heidrich/Anouk Vergé-Dépré. The Swiss lost their semi-final against the Brazilians Duda and Ana Patricia 0:2 (19:21, 13:21).
Müller and Tillmann could do better against the two Canadians. But in the first set, they lost valuable points with eight service errors. “It was a nervous start,” analyzed DVV sports director Niclas Hildebrand. In the second round, the two showed their class and put more pressure on their opponents with their variable shots. “But you could never really play freely,” said Hildebrand.
In the deciding set, Müller/Tillmann quickly fell behind by 1:5. “You started in a way you shouldn’t start a tie-break,” said the DVV Beach boss. Although they were able to shorten again and again, they were no longer able to equalize.
Still, the development of the team is amazing. They got together last year, but only this year will they play through their first season together. A first success was the victory in Ostrava in May at the Elite 16 tournament, the highest category in the Beach Pro Tour.
At the World Championships in Rome, Müller/Tillmann finally became the current flagship couple of the German Volleyball Association (DVV). As the only duo of the five German teams, they first reached the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals. And the dream of a medal is not over yet.
