In the picturesque Austrian town of Baden, amidst the swirling sands of the Thermalstrandbad, the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge kicked off with its qualification rounds. For many, it`s merely a hurdle to clear; for some, it`s a proving ground. On Wednesday, August 6, 2025, it became clear that even Olympians, fresh from the ultimate global stage, are not exempt from the rigorous demands of the qualifying gauntlet. Yet, two seasoned Italian pairs, featuring bona fide Olympians, not only faced the “Baden Challenge” but utterly conquered it, securing their well-deserved berths in the main draw.
Dominance and Determination: Italy`s Olympic Vanguard
Italy emerged as the only nation to successfully advance two men’s teams from the qualifier, each boasting a player with recent Olympic experience. This isn`t merely a statistic; it`s a testament to the depth and resilience of Italian beach volleyball. The expectation for Olympic participants might be a direct route to the main competition, but the Beach Pro Tour insists on earned success, a principle these athletes evidently embrace.
Ranghieri and Alfieri: A Masterclass in Efficiency
Leading the charge was the formidable pair of Alex Ranghieri, an Olympian from both Rio 2016 and Paris 2024, and his agile partner, Manuel Alfieri. Their journey through the qualifier was, by all accounts, a masterclass in efficiency. They dispatched their opponents with a clinical precision that left little room for doubt. Their first match saw them sweep past Germany`s Johannes Kirsten and Nicola Kössler with a confident 21-13, 21-12 victory. Not content with mere progression, they maintained their unyielding pace, defeating England`s Issa Batrane and Frederick Bialokoz 2-0 (21-16, 21-14) just hours later. For Ranghieri, this marks the third time this season he and Alfieri have navigated a Challenge qualifier, a consistent demonstration of their competitive acumen.
Cottafava and Dal Corso: Resilience Under Pressure
Meanwhile, Samuele Cottafava, also a Paris 2024 Olympian, and his partner Gianluca Dal Corso, faced a path less smooth, yet equally successful. Their journey underscored the grit required when talent meets adversity. While they confidently handled the Austrian home team of Michael Mario Klemen and Philipp Sponer in their opening match (21-17, 21-18), their second encounter was a nail-biting affair. They were pushed to a tie-breaker by compatriots Laurenc Grössig and Mathias Seiser, ultimately prevailing 2-1 (21-15, 16-21, 15-13). This resilience in the face of escalating pressure highlights a crucial quality: the ability to adjust, fight, and triumph when the stakes are highest.
The Unforgiving Nature of the Qualifier
The qualification rounds, often overlooked by casual observers fixated on medal matches, are in themselves a crucible. They serve as a harsh reminder that even for athletes with Olympic rings adorning their resumes, the sand court offers no deference. Past glory provides no free passes. This was starkly evident in the fate of Austrian Olympians Robin Seidl and Alexander Huber, who represented their nation at Rio 2016. Despite their pedigree, they fell in the second round, succumbing to French duo Elouan Chouikh-Barbez and Joadel Gardoque in two tightly contested sets (27-25, 23-21). Their exit underscores the raw competitiveness of the Beach Pro Tour – every point is earned, every match is a battle.
A Strong Field Emerges
Beyond the Italian triumphs, the qualifier also saw several other strong teams secure their main draw berths, painting a picture of a truly global and competitive event:
- Czechia`s Tadeas Trousil and Matyas Dzavoronok
- Norway`s Markus Mol and Adrian Mol
- Germany`s Maximilian Just and Philipp Huster
- Denmark`s Mads Møllgaard and Nicolai Hovmann
- Brazil`s Gustavo ‘Guto’ Carvalhaes and Vitor Felipe
Looking Ahead: The Main Draw Commences
With the qualification gauntlet successfully run, attention now shifts to the main draw, which commenced on Thursday, August 7. The men’s teams will navigate the complexities of pool play, followed by the demanding Round of 24 on Friday. The weekend promises escalating intensity, with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals slated for Saturday, culminating in the semifinals and medal matches on Sunday. The early signs from Baden suggest that Italy`s Olympic contingent is not just participating, but actively contending, ready to make a significant impact on the international beach volleyball stage.
