Second-seeded Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands will take on Russia’s Viacheslav Krasilnikov and Konstantin Semenov in the men’s bronze medal match. Neither nations have ever won a medal in Olympic beach volleyball.
Head-to-head
Brouwer/Meeuwsen of the Netherlands lead the series 4-1 against Russia’s Krasilnikov/Semenov. Russia’s only win over the Dutch men came in 2013 at the FIVB Berlin Grand Slam. Brouwer/Meeuwsen have swept Russia in straight sets in three out of five matches.
Olympic experience
Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen are making their Olympic debuts at the Rio Games.
Viacheslav Krasilnikov is making his Olympic debut in Rio while partner Konstantin Semonov made his first Olympic appearance at the London Games. Semenov and then-partner Sergei Prokopyev were eliminated in the Round of 16 after losing to Jake Gibb and Season Rosethal.
Partnership
Brouwer and Meeuwsen began playing together in 2011. Two years later the pair won the 2013 FIVB World Championships. Brouwer/Meeuwsen have had three podium finishes in the 2016 season so far.
Krasilnikov and Semenov formed their partnership in the 2013 season. The duo has reached three podiums in the 2016 season together and won their first and only World Tour Event, the Moscow Grand Slam, in June 2014.
Rio Olympics
Second-seeded Brouwer/Meeuwsen went undefeated in preliminary play to finish at the top of Pool B. Aside from their loss to Alison and Bruno Schmidt in the semifinals, the Dutch men only dropped one set in the elimination round.
Semenov/Krasilnikov finished at the top of Pool E and dropped one set in pool play, two in the elimination round.