The sand courts of Brno, Czech Republic, recently witnessed a truly remarkable display of local dominance as two home-grown duos ascended to the top podiums. Valerie Dvornikova & Michaela Brinkova in the women`s category and Jakub Sepka & Jiri Sedlak in the men`s tournament clinched coveted gold medals at the 2025 Brno Futures, part of the prestigious Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour, much to the delight of an enthusiastic home crowd.
Women`s Tournament: A Maiden Gold for Dvornikova & Brinkova
For Valerie Dvornikova (22) and Michaela Brinkova (23), the Brno Futures represented a career-defining moment. Both athletes, despite having previously tasted podium success with different partners, had yet to claim a Beach Pro Tour gold together. Seeded 11th in the main draw, their journey to the top was nothing short of a Cinderella story, marked by five consecutive wins and an unbeaten run through the tournament.
Their path was fraught with challenges, including a nail-biting all-Czech semifinal against the formidable fifth-seeded pair of Anna Pospisilova & Daniela Mokra. In a testament to their resilience, Dvornikova & Brinkova staged a magnificent comeback, winning 2-1 (15-21, 21-19, 16-14). The final match against France’s Elsa Descamps & Anouk Dupin proved equally dramatic. After dropping the first set in a grueling 27-29 exchange, the Czech duo dug deep, exhibiting composure and skill to claim the next two sets 21-12, 15-12, and with them, their first gold medal.
Meanwhile, the French silver medalists, Descamps & Dupin, demonstrated consistent excellence. Anouk Dupin, in particular, maintained her impressive streak of podium finishes at every Beach Pro Tour event this year. Her 2025 collection now boasts two golds, three silvers, and a bronze across six Futures tournaments, a remarkable feat that, for a moment, seemed poised to dampen local spirits. The bronze medal was fiercely contested by fourth-seeded Estonians Heleene Hollas & Liisa Remmelg, who swept Anna Pospisilova & Daniela Mokra 2-0 (21-16, 21-19) to secure their eighth Beach Pro Tour medal.
Men`s Tournament: Sepka & Sedlak`s Unblemished Victory
The men`s competition mirrored the women`s success for the host nation. Jakub Sepka & Jiri Sedlak, the tournament`s top seeds, delivered a performance of clinical precision. They cruised through the Brno Futures without dropping a single set in five matches, collecting their second gold and third overall medal on the Beach Pro Tour. Their dominance was undeniable, a clear statement to all contenders.
Their semifinal clash saw them dispatch ninth-seeded Lubos Nemec & Adrian Petruf of Slovakia with a confident 2-0 (21-18, 21-16) victory. The grand finale was an all-Czech affair, guaranteeing at least one gold for the hosts regardless of the outcome – a rather convenient scenario for the local fans. Sepka & Sedlak maintained their perfect record, defeating their compatriots, 11th-seeded Adam Waber & Matyas Jezek, 2-0 (21-13, 21-16).
Adam Waber & Matyas Jezek, who had secured silver at last year`s Brno Futures, once again proved their prowess, adding another podium finish to their Beach Pro Tour record. Their semifinal was a hard-fought 2-1 (25-23, 18-21, 15-12) victory against Switzerland`s Florian Breer & Luc Fluckiger. The Swiss duo, not to be outdone, rebounded to claim the bronze, winning a tight 2-1 (21-19, 18-21, 15-13) battle against Nemec & Petruf, marking their second Beach Pro Tour medal together.
A Festival of Beach Volleyball in Brno
The 2025 Brno Futures brought together 28 women’s and 28 men’s duos, representing 21 different federations, highlighting the global appeal and competitive spirit of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour. While the international contingent fought valiantly, it was the Czech athletes who ultimately turned their home event into a national triumph. The roar of the local crowd, the sheer will to win on familiar sands, and perhaps a touch of that undeniable home-court magic, all converged to create an unforgettable tournament.
As the curtains close on a successful Brno Futures, the tour rolls on. Beach volleyball enthusiasts can now look forward to the next Futures events in Budapest, Hungary, and Warsaw, Poland, scheduled from September 4 to 7, where new narratives and rivalries are set to unfold. But for now, Brno savors the sweet taste of double gold, a testament to the rising talent within Czech beach volleyball.
