America’s Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena triumphed in one of most exciting matches of the day ©FIVB

Switzerland’s Nico Beeler and Alexei Strasser provided the biggest shock on the first day of the pool phase of competition at the (FIVB) Beach Volleyball World Tour Rio Grand Slam.

The pairing had advanced through qualifying to reach the main draw of the event, being held on the Copacabana beach, where Rio 2016 Olympic competition will be held.

They were expected to struggle in their opening Pool D match against Brazil’s Evandro Goncalves and Pedro Solberg, but surprised the fourth seeds by claiming the first set impressively 21-13.

The second set was a far closer affair but  the Swiss duo remained in control to claim it 21-18 and seal the match.

“Nico and Alexei defeated Pedro and Evandro last August in the Polish Grand Slam in Olsztyn,” said Markus Egger, Switzerland’s coach.

“Our guys made very few mistakes.

“When you play like that against a good team, you have the opportunity to win.”

The pool phase of FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Rio Grand Slam on Copacabana beach is due to conclude tomorrow before the knock-out matches begin ©FIVB
The pool phase of FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Rio Grand Slam on Copacabana beach is due to conclude tomorrow before the knock-out matches begin ©FIVB

America’s Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena were looking to build upon their triumph at the Maceió Open last month, when they met Qatar’s Brazilian-born pairing of Jefferson Santos and Cherif Younousse in the first Pool F tie.

With Santos and Younousse having triumphed at the Kish Open in February, the match was eagerly anticipated by the crowd, with the Qatari duo claiming the opening set 21-17.

Dalhausser and Lucena hit back to secure the second 21-12 and,  having gained the momentum in the match, the American duo went on to clinch the decider 15-7.

Brazil's world champions Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas moved to the verge to qualifying for the first round of the women’s competition, as the duo won their opening Pool A matches.

The top seeds began with a 21-17, 24-22 triumph of Greece’s Vasiliki Arvanitiand Panagiota Karagkouni, before defeating Ana Gallay and Georgina Klug of Argentina 21-19, 21-15.

Fellow Brazilians Taiana Lima and Juliana Felisberta had a more difficult start to the tournament as they fell to an 18-21, 21-16, 15-13 loss to Slovakia's Dominika Nestarcova and Natalia Dubovcova.

They bounced back by winning their second tie 21-16, 21-18 against Vanuatu's Linlin Matauatu and Miller Pata.

The pool winners will secure their progress to the second round of competition, while the second and third place teams advancing to the first round.

Action is due to continue tomorrow.