Olympic qualifying update: Moscow Grand Slam - Articles

The Moscow Grand Slam is well into elimination playoffs; let's reexamine the Olympic qualifying ramifications for the Americans. The top American men's team, No. 3 Phil Dalhausser/Nick Lucena, lost a squeaker to No. 13 Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo of Italy 22-20, 23-21. Some will recall that this Italian team spoiled the American's 2012 Olympics in London, upsetting them in the round of 16. Nicolai/Lupo apparently are Dalhausser/Lucena's kryptonite. Even so, Dalhausser/Lucena have officially qualified for the Olympics by completing their twelfth event, even if they will only earn 120 points/person. The 240 points will take them to 5,720 points. Dalhausser/Lucena are currently ranked fourth, 260 points behind No. 6 Alexander Brouwer and Robert Meeuwsen of the Netherlands. Brouwer/Meeuwsen are still in the tournament, sitting in fifth place, facing another Dutch team, No. 5 Reinder Nummerdor/Christiaan Varenhorst to reach the medal round. No. 2 Jacob Gibb/Casey Patterson have marched through No. 24 Michal Kadziola/ Jakub Szalankiewicz of Poland (21-13, 21-18), No. 19 Jonathan Erdmann/Kay Matysik of Germany (21-13, 19-21, 15-10), and No. 12 Pablo Herrera/Adrian Gavira of Spain (21-17, 13-21, 16-14) to reach the semifinals. Gibb/Patterson will play the winner of Nummerdor/Varenhorst and Brouwer/Meeuwsen of the Netherlands for a berth in the finals. The other finalist will be either No. 17. Bartosz Losiak/Piotr Kantor of Poland or No. 1 Alison Cerutti/Bruno Oscar Schmidt of Brazil. Gibb/Patterson will earn at least 280 points each, and will earn 400 points each if they win the event. Their twelfth lowest finish during the qualifying period is 150 points, so...

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