- Concluding chapter of Ludwig's global beach volleyball journey
The outstanding professional journey of beach volleyball Olympic champion Laura Ludwig concludes. The 38-year-old, teaming up with Louisa Lippmann, suffered defeat in the quarters of the prestigious event in Hamburg, her adopted city, at the hands of their German successors Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann. The European champions secured victory over Ludwig and Lippmann with a final tally of 21:15, 21:18.
Following an early exit in the group stage at the Paris Olympic Games, Ludwig announced her retirement. Following the international tournament in Hamburg, she will call it quits forever at the forthcoming German Championships in Timmendorfer Strand. Ludwig will be given a proper send-off during the finals in Hamburg on Sunday.
Ludwig and Lippmann progressed to the round of 16 on Friday with a triumph over the Lithuanian pair Monika Paulikienė and Ainė Raupelytė. They then overcame Julia Scoles and Betsi Flint from the USA with a score of 21:15, 19:21, 15:12 to secure a place in the quarters against Müller and Tillmann.
The 23-year-old Müller and the 10-year-older Tillmann will face the Brazilian pair Galil Thamela Coradelli and Victoria Lopes Pereira Tosta on Sunday, seeking a spot in the final.
Olympic silver medalists Ehlers and Wickler forfeit due to injury
Separately, Olympic silver medalists Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler had to withdraw from the Hamburg tournament due to injury. During their victory in the opening match against the Swiss pair Quentin Métral and Jonathan Jordan on Thursday, Ehlers sustained an ankle injury.
Subsequently, the Hamburg-based duo did not participate in their subsequent two group matches. Regrettably, Ehlers' injury was too severe for him to carry on.
After the disappointing exit in Paris, Ludwig expressed her intent to retire at the German Championships in Timmendorfer Strand. Despite their quarterfinal defeat in Hamburg, Ludwig and Lippmann had a successful run, reaching the round of 16 before calling it quits.
