Intro:

Brazil's world champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt beat Jacob Gibb and Casey Patterson of the United States to reach the semi-finals of the Yokohama Grand Slam on Saturday (25th July).

However the women's top seeds, Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes, went out to Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst.

Script:

Brazil's world champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt faced American pair Jacob Gibb and Casey Patterson in the quarter-finals of the Yokohama Grand Slam on Saturday.

Alison and Bruno jump out into an early 5-1 lead.

But the Brazilians edged ahead with Alison's spike helping them take the first set 21-16.

Another block from Gibb on Alison kept his side in touch but again, the Brazilians proved just too strong and Alison's block on Patterson sealed a 2-0 (21-16, 21-16) win.

There was a surprise in the women's quarter-finals as top seeds Larissa Franca and Talita Antunes went out to Germany's Laura Ludwig and Kira Walkenhorst.

Germany had the upper hand with some massive Walkenhorst hits paired with Ludwig's ability to reach the unreachable secured them the first set 21-18.

Ludwig and Walkenhorst raced into a 13-5 lead in the second set but the Brazilians managed to claw themselves back into the match.

However the German pair stretched away again and a Walkenhorst block sealed victory in 37 minutes, 2-0 (21-18, 21-18).

Ludwig and Walkenhorst will now face April Ross and Jennifer Fopma of the United States in the semi-finals.