Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova (pictured in green) and Markéta Sluková made an impressive start to the defence of their FIVB Antalya Open title ©FIVB

Czech Republic’s Barbora Hermannova and Markéta Sluková made an impressive start to the defence of their International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Antalya Open title by recording two victories on the opening day of the women’s main draw.

Hermannova and Sluková scored a 26-24, 25-23 win over 19th-seeded Yulia Abalakina and Ekaterina Syrtseva of Russia in their first match.

The 14th seeds then overcame 30th-seeded Karin Lundqvist and Anne Lie Rininsland of Sweden 15-21, 21-17, 15-7 to extend their winning run in the event to nine.

The Czech duo’s third and final Pool C is scheduled for tomorrow when they go against third-seeded Monika Brzostek and Kinga Kolosinska of Poland, who lost to the Russians 15-21, 19-21 after defeating the Swedes 21-19, 23-21.

One of the biggest surprises of the day came in Pool E as 21st-seeded Vasiliki Arvaniti and Penny Karagkouni of Greece ended the nine-match FIVB World Tour winning streak of Switzerland’s Joana Heidrich and Nadine Zumkehr with a 27-25, 21-15 success.

Fifth-seeded Heidrich and Zumkehr, the winners of last week’s Sochi Open, opened today with a 22-24, 21-13, 15-12 win over 28th-seeded qualifiers Kristyna Kolocova and Michala Kvapilova of the Czech Republic.

The Swiss conclude pool play tomorrow against 12th-seeded qualifiers Chantal Laboureur and Julia Sude of Germany, who also lost against the Greeks, 19-21, 17-21.

The United States' Jeremy Casebeer (pictured) and Derek Olson secured their place in the men's main draw
The United States' Jeremy Casebeer (pictured) and Derek Olson secured their place in the men's main draw ©FIVB

On the men’s side, pairs from Belarus, Qatar and the United States were among those to reach the opening main draw matches.

Posting today’s best qualifying results were 12th-seeded Aliaksandr Dziadkou and Aliaksandr Kavalenka of Belarus and 16th-seeded Jeremy Casebeer and Derek Olson of the US. 

Casebeer and Olson progressed by defeating top-seeded Dries Koekelkoren and Tom van Walle of Belgium 21-18, 21-23, 15-13, while Dziadkou and Kavalenka ousted fifth-seeded Morten Kvamsdal and Christian Sorum of Norway 17-21, 22-20, 15-11.

Also breaking through was 11th-seeded Julio Nascimento and Ahmed Tijan of Qatar, who successfully came through a FIVB World Tour qualifier for the first-time in five attempts.

Nascimento and Tijan advanced with 21-11, 21-19 victory over 27th-seeded Ukrainians Oleksiy Denin and Sergiy Popov, the surprise first-round conquerors of sixth-seeded Kristoffer Abell and Peter Kildegaard of Denmark by a scoreline of 14-21, 21-15, 15-11.

Two teams from Norway qualified today, including third-seeded Geir Eithun and Iver Horrem and fourth-seeded Oivind Hordvik and Bjarte Usken.

Also progressing to the main draw were second-seeded Philip Gabathuler and Mirco Gerson of Switzerland, seventh-seeded Georgios Kotsilianos and Nikos Zoupanis of Greece, and eighth-seeded Michal Bryl and Kacper Kujawiak of Poland.