Beach volleyball icon Laura Ludwig is threatening an Olympic debacle
The fifth Olympic Games are running disastrously for Laura Ludwig. The beach volleyball icon suffers her second defeat in her second game with her partner Louisa Lippmann. The 2016 Olympic champion is facing elimination in the group stage. Things are going better for the second German duo.
Laura Ludwig tried not to hide her immense frustration after her next defeat in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. "Shit," cursed Germany's beach volleyball star. "It's a shitty feeling. We didn't get into the game and we didn't play what we're capable of. It's just bitter."
The 0:2 (9:21, 15:21) loss against European champions Nina Brunner/Tanja Hüberli from Switzerland threatens Ludwig's fifth Olympic mission to fail in the group stage. In her second defeat, the 2016 Olympic champion and her partner Louisa Lippmann had no chance. "To stand there, getting pounded, and not having the right solution is frustrating," said Lippmann.
To keep their chance of reaching the knockout round, the German duo must now win their final match against Spanish European Championship silver medalists Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno on Saturday (12:00 CEST/ZDF, Eurosport, and in the ntv.de live ticker). The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the two best third-placed teams, will advance directly to the round of 16. The remaining third-placed teams will have to go through the Lucky Loser round.
Ludwig now wants to "really turn everything upside down" to somehow turn the tide. But how? She had no answer. Neither she nor debutant Lippmann seem to be able to draw any positives from their previous performances in the picturesque setting. So far, the 38-year-old Ludwig and the former indoor national team player Lippmann have only been able to keep up in one of the four sets they've played, and their opening loss against French duo Alexia Richard and Lezana Placette (0:2) was a clear affair, except for the second set. "I have no explanation," said Ludwig, dejected.
Second German women's team plays confidently
Meanwhile, the second German women's team, Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann, can almost plan their entry into the round of 16. The duo won 2:0 (21:17, 21:9) against Czech pair Marie-Sara Stochlova/Barbora Hermannova and have secured third place in group C with their second win. The top two teams from each of the six groups, as well as the two best third-placed teams, will advance directly to the round of 16. The remaining third-placed teams will have to go through the Lucky Loser round.
After some initial difficulties, the 2022 World Championship bronze medalists, who are considered medal contenders in Paris, significantly improved. They also didn't want to overrate their second confident win. "Our coach always says that you don't win tournaments in the group," said Tillmann. Their final group stage match will be played on Friday (22:00 CEST/ARD, Eurosport, and in the ntv.de live ticker) under floodlights against American duo Sara Hughes/Kelly Cheng.
Ludwig/Lippmann, on the other hand, have to cope with the disappointment. "The good thing is that we now have two days to just take a break," said Ludwig, who plans to spend the free time with her family. "I'll try to chill with the kids somehow," she said, finding a brief moment of laughter when thinking about her sons Teo and Lenny.
While this is a first for former indoor national team player Lippmann in the French capital, Ludwig is participating in the Summer Games for the fifth time. The duo, which began their joint Olympic mission at the end of 2022, had been cautious in their goal setting beforehand. Ludwig had won the gold medal in 2016 in Rio alongside Kira Walkenhorst.
Despite her Olympic Games 2024 in Paris participation being her fifth, Laura Ludwig is currently facing elimination due to her poor performance. The German duo needs to win their final match to secure a place in the knockout round.
Lippmann, on the other hand, is experiencing her first Olympics in Paris. Despite the team's struggles, she finds solace in the fact that they have two days off before their next match.
