Defending CEV EuroBeachVolley champions Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann of Germany began their 2025 campaign on a high note in Düsseldorf, securing a direct spot in the elimination rounds with a dominant win on Wednesday, the tournament`s opening day.
Performing before their home crowd at the Rochus Club, the German duo was one of 16 teams to achieve an opening victory, guaranteeing their progression to the knockout stage. A second pool play win would see them advance directly to the Round of 16.
Thursday will mark the conclusion of pool play, with eight pairs moving directly to the Round of 16 and an additional 16 progressing to the Round of 24, also scheduled for the same day. The Round of 16 and quarterfinals will unfold on Friday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, and the highly anticipated medal matches on Sunday.
CEV EuroBeachVolley 2025 – Women’s Tournament Highlights
Cheered on by their local supporters, Müller and Tillmann had a straightforward start, comfortably defeating Spanish sisters Maria and Marta Carro 2-0 (21-10, 21-13) in Pool H. This was one of the most one-sided matches on the opening day in Düsseldorf. In the other Pool H encounter, Poland`s Malgorzata Ciezkowska and Urszula Lunio also secured a straight-sets victory over Lithuanians Daniele Kvedaraite and Jekaterina Kovalskaja (21-19, 21-19). Müller/Tillmann and Ciezkowska/Lunio will now compete for the top spot in the pool on Thursday, while the Spanish and Lithuanian teams will battle to stay in the tournament.
Another German pair, Linda Bock and Louisa Lippmann, delivered one of the day`s most significant wins in Pool E, overcoming Lithuanian Olympians Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte in straight sets (21-7, 21-16). Their next challenge will be against French Olympians Clémence Vieira and Aline Chamereau, who began their tournament with a decisive 2-0 victory (21-16, 21-18) against Czech twins Anna and Katerine Pavelková.
Hanna-Marie Schieder and Karla Borger, another German duo, also achieved a notable upset on Wednesday, triumphing in three sets (19-21, 21-15, 15-9) against Italians Claudia Scampoli and Giada Bianchi in Pool F. They are now set to face Spanish Olympians Daniela Álvarez and Tania Moreno, who bested Finland’s Sara Sinisalo and Taru Lahti in two sets (21-18, 21-14).
The fervent home support also propelled Sandra Ittlinger and Anna-Lena Grüne to victory in Düsseldorf, as they overcame Dutch duo Mila Konink and Raisa Schoon in straight sets (21-18, 21-18). The Germans are poised for an thrilling Pool C decider against Swiss sisters Anouk and Zoé Vergé-Dépré, who secured a commanding two-set win (21-12, 27-25) over young Polish talents Julia Radelczuk and Natalia Okla in their opening match.
In Pool A, Valentina Gottardi and Reka Orsi Toth of Italy, who defeated Lithuanians Ieva Dumbauskaite and Gerda Grudzinskaite in straight sets (21-17, 21-16), and Czechs Kylie Neuschaeferova and Marie-Sára Štochlová, who upset Ukrainians Valentyna Davidova and Anhelina Khmil with a two-set victory (21-18, 22-20), became the first teams to secure their places in the elimination rounds.
Pool B action commenced with Austrian sisters Dorina and Ronja Klinger dominating German wildcards Chenoa Christ and Anna-Chiara Reformat with a 2-0 win (21-16, 21-11). Meanwhile, Ukrainians Yeva Serdiuk and Daria Romaniuk emerged victorious from a fierce three-set clash (19-21, 23-21, 17-15) against Dutch pair Emi van Driel and Wies Bekhuis.
Pool D promises an exciting conclusion, as two-time EuroBeachVolley champions Tina Graudina and Anastasija Samoilova of Latvia began with a hard-fought 2-1 victory (16-21, 21-12, 16-14) over Spanish duo Sofía Izuzquiza and Sofía González. In the same pool, Swiss pair Tanja Hüberli and Leona Kernen made a strong debut, comfortably defeating Estonians Heleene Hollas and Liisa Remmelg in straight sets (21-9, 21-14).
French Olympians Lézana Placette and Alexia Richard, who secured a two-set win (21-18, 21-13) against Dutch pair Noa Sonneville and Brecht Piersma, along with Ukrainians Maryna Hladun and Tetiana Lazarenko, who swept (23-21, 21-9) Germans Janne Uhl and Paula Schürholz, will vie for a direct spot in the Round of 16 from Pool G on Thursday.
