German's Holtwick and Semmler breeze through at Beach Volleyball World Championship, while Brazilians dominate semi-final line-ups

Germany’s Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler reached the World Championship semi-final for the first time ©FIVB

Germany’s Katrin Holtwick and Ilka Semmler reached the semi-final phase of the Beach Volleyball World Championship for the first time in their career after a busy day of action in The Netherlands which saw last 16 and quarter-final matches held in both the men’s and women’s competition.

Holtwick and Semmler began the seventh day of the Championship in confident mood having won all their previous matches in straight sets and they continued that record with a 21-18, 24-22 victory over Russia’s Evgenia Ukolova and Ekaterina Birlova in Rotterdam.

Their quarter-final victory was also a straightforward affair as they defeated the United States pairing of Lauren Fendrick and Brooke Sweat 21-18, 21-15.

The German’s are now set to face Brazilian opposition in the semi-final after Fernanda Alves and Taiana Lima were successful in both of today's knock-out matches, beginning with a 21-17, 21-19 last 16 victory over Spain’s Elsa Baquerizo and Liliana Fernandez at The Hague.

Their quarter-final match was a far tougher affair, though, as they were forced to fight from a set down against Australian duo Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy to claim a dramatic 15-21, 21-16, 18-16 victory, in just under an hour.

They will be one of three Brazilian pairings in the women’s semi-finals after Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas overcame China’s Fan Wang and Yuan Yue 21-18, 23-21 in their last eight tie, while Maria Antonelli and Juliana Felisberta defeated Canada’s Heather Bansley and Sarah Pavan 25-23, 21-18.

The United States Nicholas Lucena and Theodore Brunner claimed a straight sets quarter-final win to advance to the last four — The United States' Nicholas Lucena and Theodore Brunner claimed a straight sets quarter-final win to advance to the last four ©Getty Images

Brazil will also be represented in the men’s semi-finals after Pedro Solberg and Evandro Goncalves firstly ended the run of the tournament surprise package Nivaldo Diaz and Sergio Gonzalez of Cuba 21-19, 19-21, 15-8 in the last 16, before they earned another three set victory over their fellow Brazilians Alvaro Filho and Vitor Felipe in Rotterdam.

Solberg and Goncalves claimed the opening set 21-14 against their compatriots, who had put out the defending champions Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwse yesterday.

The tie was soon level, however, as Filho and Felipe hit back to win the second 21-14.

Solberg and Goncalves regained their form in the decider to seal the win 21-14, 14-21, 15-8 and set up a semi-final against home favourites Reinder Nummerdor and Christiaan Varenhorst

The Dutchmen had beat Americans John Hyden and Tri Bourne 23-21, 23-21.

The remaining Brazilian men’s paring Alison Cerutti and Bruno Schmidt are also into the semi-final after registering a comfortable 21-12, 21-17 win in their match against Americans Jacob Gibb and Casey Patterson in Apeldoorn.

They are now set to face the another American pair, Nicholas Lucena and Theodore Brunner, in their last four encounter after they won 21-19, 21-19 against Jefferson Santos Pereira and Cherif Younosse of Qatar.

All the semi-final matches are now due to be played in front of The Netherlands’ central Government building in The Hague.