Crabb Tr./Budinger vs. Rotar/Gauthier-Rat - Pool Play Highlights | Rio de Janeiro 2026 #BeachProTour

The number eight seeds, Arnaud Gautierat, Olympian alongside new partner Theo Rutter, taking on. Been looking forward to this one. France in the white shirts, server Arnaud Gautierat in the podium here in Rio, but they're up against a team that need a win here just to make sure of things. Trevor Crabbe and the man at the net Chase Budinger. It's getting too involved with Gautierat but they are going straight at the defender here. Tries to pass an option ball, doesn't get it and then get drawn into anything. Won't get fussed. It's a very good mental approach from them. Nice and Gautierat returns the favour, extending their time in the air. Back to Crabbe. Crabbe knew what he had to do there. Three-quarter court defender, get it to the corner fast. Look at that space that Crabbe is leaving. France couldn't resist going for that. And they're in the rally. Honestly the confidence of the modern player. No big damage though. Very good and a pressure serve produces a point for France. Another good serve. Nice, good comfortable seam swing. And there we go. Starts or finishes as he starts with a block. Rio de Janeiro. Nice. Last two shots against the Budinger block. Full throttle. A little while since Budinger's had to side out. Off his own pass. Goes for the seam covered by Crabbe. There you go. Didn't look like much did it as an attack. It's a great shot. Games level again. I'm glad they didn't start at 20 all because we're getting to watch some side out team with the advantage all the way. That is so good. Helping with the error count which is very low. Oh what a shot. Pressure's on. Gautier Ravi Budinger and he does the same thing. Anything you can do buddy in this tight first set. Gautier Ra hoovers up as Budinger is forced down the line. Good hammer from Gautier Ra and a tricky ball. Finish. And Gautier Ra's not happy with his partner here for not staying in. Didn't honor the set. Raced away from the net and that was a ball he could have blocked all. Serve middle. Gautier Ra takes it away from his young partner and just sorts it out. He's working out the dance routine. Sticking on Gautier Ra. Option turn down. Gautier Ra with a set behind him. Can't put it away. Crabbe to win it. No. France get the dig and forced through the uprights. Third set point. Good serve. Tough ball. Oh well made. And Rota can't get high enough to stop Budinger. USA won't be complaining. 23-21 then. France lead. USA. Oh no. USA. Away we go with set two and it starts with an ace. Covered this time by Gautier Ra. USA in the green. Leading by a set to nil. Blocker Chase Budinger. Losing out on that one and defender. Unbelievable. It's the special power that us idiots with a microphone like to claim. In good spirits today. Chase chatting away before that point. USA may not need to win it either. They've already got one in the bank but don't want to leave too many things to chance. Another good serve. Fired at the baseline. It is definitely producing chances and Trevor Crabbe will be kicking himself. USA will be thinking about changes here. Nice. After a lively first two thirds to this match Rota has gone awfully quiet. Yeah nice. Couldn't quite get it to the line. Crabbe's putting in a shift here and Rota's turn. France looking to engineer at least a chance here. Wow that's been clubbed. Smooth. Very neat but it's a slim one. Still four match points to team USA. No. One more and I suspect it'll be USA timeout. Better pass and a very good hit. Crabbe putting his back into that one to get it done. 21-17. USA win the game.