Ana Patrícia/Duda 🇧🇷 vs Kraft/Cheng 🇺🇸 - Semi Finals 2026 | Full Match - BPT 2026 João Pessoa

The cross body on into the deep angle shot immediately due to moving that line of approach in a bit more and that one is blocked but covered good read from Kraft over the head of Anna Patricia and Kelly Cheng apologizing for Megan that said she wanted it to be a little bit tighter for her beautiful read for Megan what a pickup however what a lead from Anna Patricia you know she's going to play it with her foot skills and then just duck beautifully here's the first jump set but does it fool Anna Patricia as she is there and so blockers for both teams getting involved early Anna Patricia not nibbling on the jump set from Megan Kraft and then it was a little bit low on the inside and now Patricia staying beautifully with Cheng how about a jump set in return back to back jump set from this USA pair and that is a wrinkle in their game that a lot of teams don't have both players being able to hit that jump set I think Kelly because she is synonymous with the onto definitely gets more of a nibble from Anna Patricia there and then it's the free net for Megan which she totally capitalizes on oh look out below extra pop on that sling it was an aggressive serve from Cheng but it was right into the platform of Duda she didn't have to move so then the accelerated release because Kelly's on the service line they're going to look for that onto and what a delivery there's the option you were talking about Anna Patricia freezing there she was coming off to play some defense but Kelly feels the space and just smart I'm loving what both of these teams are doing right now but it's the USA pairing with these added extras are definitely confounding Brazil a little bit more as long as they can keep their side out going but it's good surface pressure from Megan unfortunately Kelly again with another error on the first contact the wind possibly playing a part and it has shifted a little bit it's coming from the top right hand corner above the bottom right hand corner so it's actually it's actually pulling it away from the net at the near side of your screens a strange error there from Chang on that free ball the baby dropper is just perfect in between both Brazilian players do they look like she was on it but because it came through the hands of Anna Patricia she didn't manage to keep vision of the ball short serve to Duda inside set Kraft kind of moving into that angle gets frozen and no chance to come back to collect that short line and as fierce as Duda has been at hitting the ball and she really has been offloading on some hits throughout the course of this tournament her vision is so good and forcing Chang into that little indecisive pull oh what a brilliant pull dig she's gonna finish as much she can't into the net but expect more of those kind of digs if Kelly Chang goes to option Anna Patricia is so comfortable playing defense phenomenal read from Anna Patricia and the control and the absorption of that ball and the director Duda unfortunately just got a little carried away with the swing Chang must be Kraft the ace leader going for that deep corner too much sauce on that one apologies at home we are having some internet streams it does keep dropping but just there with us the backroom staff are valiantly hard at work to keep that stream going oh good hang time from AP with the left a big paw of Anna Patricia and it's Anna Patricia yelling roaring to the crowd come with us take us on this journey to the finals inside set for Kraft that is really smart not an easy shot to make is that one dying on her left shoulder Anna Patricia very focused in her lateral moves taking as long as she possibly could before she took off and then Megan just with the best of decelerations on the contact clipping over Anna Patricia Duda little left short shot craft from her knees and Chang will poke it down good athletic play from United States and there is Brazil bent out of shape Duda at the net blocking Anna Patricia possibly could have made the defense but just dappled a little bit on the contact but well worked USA seven a piece on the change little face wipe there for Chang nice serve nice touch AP trying to get this one up but that one catching the tape and then catching Duda high on the shoulder love the chicken wing effort but doesn't quite get it and this is Kelly Chung getting a little extra ping off of her serve and having to work really hard to get into the net unfortunately just a little high for Duda oh that one is perfectly placed up the middle and the service pressure we talk about it of Megan Kraft she's leading the tournament aces but Kelly Chang has a wide variety of service options for herself as well nine seven right back up the middle good pace oh and that is good high deep swing Chang loaded ready for that one just can't control it beautiful footwork from Anna Patricia definitely having to work really hard out on the pin Kelly was there but didn't quite get the determination and the movement forward to get that control but what serving from Chang the plus two from the service line they'll take that jump set over and easy and that is one of the risks that you you uh you deal with when you're going with that jump set sometimes it can be not as perfect you have to bring what you do in the training ground to competition and I want to see if they're going to go down which I don't definitely believe they will do but if they're going to do it they've got to do it this is the time and they are going back to it doubling down go on because if you don't do it now you shy away from doing it and I always remember Rasmus got used to get so fiercely angry with the young Swedes if they won but they didn't deploy their system if they lost but they've been trying as hard because this is where you really learn what you do on the training ground because you really believe it oh fierce swing down the line from Duda no chance for United States and those early blocks from Kelly definitely put Duda on the back foot but now she's getting back into her groove snapping out of bounds so good short serve from Duda kind of break up that approach and this is what the fans came to see this is what we want to see in a semi-final match juggernauts going blow for blow early in this semi-final and they're thinking behind Brazil going short and Kelly Chang she has to lay out completely doesn't get any retraction time takes a look but she tries to go quick down the line but because she hasn't got that run to get looking for beautiful sort of dismantling of USA little peek into the boxes here working with Brazil he's been with them for some time now and then coach Jordan Chang the husband of Kelly Chang as well kind of surprised with the option but Duda was ready for it and Duda will make the pay as that ball flies into the stands unbelievable fierce heat from a Duda in what looked like a compromised position because Kelly Chang didn't stay to block and Kelly Chang on that one too was read so perfectly by Duda with the perfect finish good read from Duda on that high line another defensive point coming no it'll be a swing into the net from Duda there's a break for United States and if there's any reprieve for USA Duda and Anna Pritchett look so fired up that they're coming in a transition just super super heavy and then sometimes the set's dropping a little bit and they're not just just adjusting mid-flight to go I need to shoot this ball and they've made some errors on some very costly transitional points speaking of errors on our service error from Chang missing that one just a little bit keeping that pressure on Megan Craft good job Megan Craft one of the first cutties or slaps to the angle that we've seen from her it's really hard when you're at home you kind of keep your eye on the ball but you kind of look at the defense and then looking at the line of Megan Craft the way she's coming in she looks like she's really opening up the line so Duda starts to kind of lean a little bit and then Megan's contact just takes it away from Duda she doesn't get the reaction perfect little short pokey and if you see it loves to use that shot and with a big wind up it can really hold defenses and a big point to Iago Herkowitz in the box after this drop shot so I'm saying you told us that coach that's one for you off the tape that is brilliant from Duda and you love the fiery scream from AP just supporting her partner they know how difficult it is to beat any USA team coming to the Brazil because literally USA love to level up and again but this time Kelly gets that trickle oh what a swing I'm loving the heat that Kelly brings when she gets that opportunity she can hit it as hard as anybody that we have on the Beach Pro Tour coming in takes a quick little look enough space for her but Brazil earning every once in a while here defensively forcing USA to be great 13-15 here in the first set Duda thunderous to the corner and what's so good about what Duda's doing now is she's not getting greedy on the angle she's hitting it high and deep into the bottom corner not trying to thunder it right into the middle of the pocket and that's where Kelly hasn't been able to get involved since that first big block at the start of this set oh that one's gonna hang on the net for what felt like a minute everybody patiently waiting and Chang waits waits waits puts up a good set for Megan and what a finish for Megan as well just held on held back don't get too excited don't panic beautiful delivery from Chang smart short serve to Duda no approach not needed for Duda as she again cranks one up the middle pure arm swing there from Duda it was a tricky serve shorts a little I love the thinking from Kraft to try and dismantle Brazil but Duda's ability there to hit the middle no chance for reaction from USA defense off the net for Megan Kraft she's I think one of the best that we have in the world at attacking from off the net she scores at the middle that's been a few times at this end because the wind has changed so predominantly has been coming from the other direction so now it's coming from behind Ana Patricia in that top right hand corner so the set's coming off the net at this near end Duda takes her look goes to the cutty nice touch from Kraft but it'll set up an option here from AP who goes right back to that short knuckle poke and Duda apologizing to AP saying sorry partner put you a little bit wide but again Kelly's always problem solving with their knuckle but so is AP what a beautiful Aikido move forcing USA to take their time out Megan on it but too too good time out here for United States down three against Brazil Brazil just maintaining that edge and then grabbing a couple defensive points here a couple defensive points there and it's not an empty seat here in the crowd a couple Red Bull athletes making sure they get their Red Bull up on the armchair not many people have those Red Bull visors only the elite of the elite in that category and these two Brazilians there can USA do out of the time out beautiful chop good time out good control for Megan Kraft and that's a better set from Kelly just putting it into the net forcing the block and opening up the space tough float serve no chance Miranda Patricia to chase that one down and the ace leader for our event we'll add another one to her tally great time out from USA getting the good side out but then what I loved about Megan Kraft is she just took some natural steps on the approach there so what Brazil thought they were going to get in suddenly change and so that movement hard to decipher in that movement by Kraft as she goes for her jump float Duda looking for the line swing it was the right swing but it goes long and I see Iago Herkovic getting up I think he wants to call time out I think AP and Duda were also thinking the same and so time out for United States equals three straight points really nicely managed by Kraft and Cheng simple stuff but you just got to focus on the things that you can control that control on the side out good setting and then pressure from the serve Megan Kraft showing us exactly why she's leading in aces another warm day in Jalapesoa talking to many players it's one of those things that can be hard to train for a lot of athletes not living in these kind of conditions with this humidity and heat and so I know at USA a lot of athletes getting in the sauna riding that bike in the sauna trying to prep for these conditions so USA with an excellent response out of their time out does Brazil have a similar answer need a side out here it's a big one all knotted up at the moment 18 apiece and a good line drive serve from Kraft oh what a cover got to keep playing no call from a referee tap down the line is perfect and Cheng has a decent argument here I don't know the contact was an open hand from Anna Patricia or was it a close fist what you'd say is that was there enough time to Anna Patricia to do something else because there was a lot of heat on the ball it's quite far off the net I would normally expect that to be cool but sometimes it's like spectacular play letting it flow would have been difficult call for Brian Heber in that instant I think hard to be in the shoes of a referee that do not envy them much better here in the box with us 1918 Duda overhead this time to the line and Brazil get the much-needed side out but you can see the difference at this near end of your screens the ball is coming off the net Duda happens to jump back because I'm falling on a knee after the contact so they're losing length if they're not tight on the net good patience out of the middle from Duda it's a big swing here in transition oh goodness she will get it off the chest of Megan Kraft I love where Duda held herself in defense right on the seam of Anna Patricia she could see that USA would dismantle she was able to take that step and what a finish just a body check on Kraft right back to Cheng set point number one here for Brazil Cheng the slide approach into the net and so the last minute change up from Brazil targeting Megan Kraft all match long guess what surprise Kelly Cheng with a couple serves late not quite in the rhythm and they get rewarded exactly what you should be doing target somebody keep them on ice literally Kelly Cheng only receiving four receives throughout that whereas Megan received 14 great strategy by Brazil and as well they had to adjust with the wind in their faces which they hadn't done to that point but they did really good good timeout management as my goodness we didn't know which way that was going to go what a play from the numbers here in set one three service aces for United States two blocks a piece extremely low errors for both teams just two for Brazil the runs at the last minute runs here it was a four point run for United States after their timeout and then Duda and Anna Patricia a three-point run to close it out talk about a late last minute push they're just such smart and that last dig from Duda holding in the middle it's so easy to keep moving to that sideline not the case when you're playing a zonal defense which when you're calling a line blocker cross court block it's often very easy to say well I was in the line that was supposed to be yours on the cross court but cross court blocking is really difficult and if you're not helping your blocker out by holding as close to the seam of your line defense so right on the edge of the shoulder and that is what Duda demonstrated so effectively Duda a little sidewinder to the side line as she goes to target Kelly Chang and that first serve tight set poke to the middle enough time for craft and that is a good quick option taken from Kelly Chang I think feeling that Duda was up at the net yeah really nicely done out of position Duda is playing a split blocking role when she's she's passing backwards and it finds herself caught up in the net but not putting enough pressure on Chang short line nice coverage another good touch from craft and another quick option from Kelly Chang and this is smart volleyball being played by United States and Kelly Chang just desperate is the best proponent of the pivot and hit she hasn't got any run up the ball's coming straight at her and as she's pivoting she's really trying to capture look of where her opponents are and she's doing a fantastic job of it right now that pressure it's time to the side line of Duda the short shot she was a bit compromised and somehow pulls a rabbit out of her hat with that short line yeah you can definitely see how that wind is really bringing it away from the net so presenter gonna have to keep it aggressive Duda really having to problem solve mid-flight craft was there but that wind just bringing it down in front of her nobody up for Kelly Chang and she sizzles one up the middle love the stall footwork by Kelly Chang she knows it's coming but it's going higher going higher so she's just on that first timing step just holding holding holding and she's getting a really good clip on that ball let's change up to the sideline Anna Patricia hanging and I think they're looking for a net but I think the net was bouncing from the surf now I think it might have been a touch off of Chang as she pulled back I think so I'm not yeah but you're not going to get anything from Kelly she's never been known to give it to Brazil good start from United States 5-1 Duda getting roofed from Kelly Chang and already in this match a couple blocks from Kelly Chang that is number three for her making some good moves and that was a big end for USA great service pressure closing out Duda when she's coming in battering the ball because she lost sight of where the defense was from USA and I are I know they're just gonna I thought they're gonna call it a timeout 6-1 down but I think they're just gonna do some cleaning of sunglasses maybe yeah I think that block that ball went back to the the face the glasses of Duda a bit and so maybe getting a little sand this pressure from USA often at the tail end there USA probably felt like they had that first set but this reset this grounding that you're seeing just kind of go okay playing well doesn't matter that they whisk that one away we know what we're capable of and it's just the stability of this team of Chang and Kraft right now to come out start the second set go right okay we're going to three don't look phased by that first set loss at all and we see that over and over don't we we saw it with Italy they totally just lost it after feeling like they should have had the third set whereas Keng and Kraft we're gonna have to call them by a combined name at some time and are we getting a time out or something no we're not I thought there was a whistle there so out of that little pause and play it'll be a dig from Kraft a tight play at the net Chang again she has been perfect on her options here to start set number two and there is the time out seven one down that is really quite late but I guess they were hoping the end switch might sort of change their flavor however Megan Kraft in defense Brazil out of sorts holding her ground I love it it's like a goalkeeper when they're saving a penalty they don't know where they're gonna go so do you know what hold in the middle and don't move early don't give anything away and that's what Megan's doing if Brazil look out of shape just hold the ground and Megan she's so long in defense and she's looking super relaxed improving all the time working behind somebody that's blocking really effectively great to see this improvement yeah I like that you brought up the length of Megan Kraft six-foot defender one of the bigger defenders that we have and so benefit of covering such a big portion of the sand with just one or two steps great start the United States pair after dropping the first set and that one in the right direction there's not enough top spin on that serve from Kelly Chang inside set Duda there Duda to the line Kraft not fast enough both these defenders hanging on the seam of their blockers when the attack isn't totally predictable and making some great moves with the finish from Duda over the block deep into the corner and then putting pressure on Kraft what good scoop Duda in transition again oh there is the length of Kraft can she find this one overset another chance for Duda to the line oh yes the fans love it and there's Duda making the press in transition going into a split blocking role and actually getting that overset wasn't there but Duda was great delivery black and just not able to see the no looking line Kraft coming out of the middle and Kraft chip to the line it's a different line of approach to that pass kind of bringing her over that way but ends up being a benefit to the United States does a fantastic job of holding her platform on a really difficult serve just allowing that energy of the ball to lift keeps it contained with Kelly opens up the line so good little pushback there from the Brazilians good short serve from Megan and both United States players sliding to that line and Duda makes them pay Kelly making an early decision to peel leaving a free net for Duda when she wasn't really in a position and it was tight to the net and Kelly may be feeling she was compromised didn't have much but when you're clipping the net like that you've got to think the block would be all over it if you're in the right position good fight off and a great set and then down the line Anna Patricia still kind of moving those feet a little bit but Kelly Chang a brilliant set unbelievable set the way she took that almost like she set that from underneath on the other side of the net great patience but Megan has got a big hitting window lovely stride pattern and Anna Patricia making that pull not stable Megan just taking her on Chang right idea there had the serve she wanted it just drifted a bit putting Chang short Chang trying to come in aggressive but there is the wall of Anna Patricia and the simple thing for Brazil was Anna Patricia didn't have to move her feet at all it the set went literally right in front of her so she just had to concentrate on the press and it was huge trying to go right back to that short middle serve both teams trying to implement this short serve right now but after a slow start from Brazil they have cleaned up their side they are fully in this set USA Relentless on Duda on the service receive and that is what they're looking for trying to break down the service receive consistency Duda finds herself in at the net and there's not enough press on the split block by the Brazilian defender she's got to do more if she's going to go in and that is well worked by USA already four or five options taken in transition from Kelly Chang has scored over and over again looking to go over on one but Kraft too fast for that good touch from Duda change of direction oh and Anna Patricia will poke it over and help her partner up what a play redirected dig from Duda she couldn't get both hands but just concentrating on a nice relaxed underhand paddle off the contact just has to lay out what a touch and Anna Patricia just calm as you like in with the pokey trouble for Chang that one off the platform and it's an ace from Anna Patricia and that is the mix-up isn't it first ball to Chang after she hasn't received any at the first at the start of this second set good flipping the switch by Brazil Chang just trying to softly cut it to the sideline doesn't get the lift she's looking for and just like that what was once a 7-1 lead for Kraft and Chang is now just a one point lead for United States and the difficulty for Kelly Chang is it was a good set a little bit inside she looked at the ball then looked at the space but by the time she went back to the ball a little further away and that chip was further off the net good service pressure and I love it when teams are thinking throughout the whole course again reading the room as it goes Kraft in a groove passing beautifully why not try the other side out you've got to keep remembering what's in your playbook when do you use it we have a chance to respond right now so inside the box with Jordan Chang a lot of people are asking me about the the new partnership for this season Therese Cannon she had shoulder surgery that kind of left Megan with a free free agent ish because you're not necessarily going to wait if you're a USA player Kelly always we knew that she would make the move after she moved on to Molly Shaw as soon as Megan came available it was quite obvious that these two were going to be a partnership they've shown that they're really capable of doing what it needs to play at this highest level we wish Therese well in her recovery we cannot wait to see her back on the beach pro tour it'd be interesting to see who she comes back with as that kind of dominoes domino effect of partner switching plays out in USA and Patricia again her mitts on everything right now finally gets to go and we'll have to mention coach Mike Playcheck who used to work with Megan Kraft and Therese Canyon Therese Cannon also assisting this squad as another voice in the box at trainings and so two coaching coaches here with Kraft and Chang and two brilliant minds of our sport oh and Kraft made the perfect move to stick there give her the hezi but she stays and unfortunately can't control the dig yeah I think it's a great move by this USA pair to have the two coaches as well there's always a discussion around a partner coaching your other half but I think the fact that Mike Playcheck is very much a part of this coaching staff is really really invaluable as Anna Patricia at the net is really elevating she's getting a grip of the USA attack and they are struggling time out call I'm out now United States and Kelly Chang is trying to muscle through on some of these swings and she has she has really effective shots and swings but at the moment it is Anna Patricia who is getting her mitts on everything and I'm not sure what Brazil was asking about there but yeah in the second set it's five and five to Kelly Chang so it started off on Kraft but they have flipped the switch to Kelly and now they're dialed in on her attack so really nice thinking I love it when a team just okay what are they doing to us how do we get out of this how can we get our way back and that's what problem solving is a really good testament and we'll see if Megan Kraft maybe starts to look for that option a little bit more very capable on that right side of course you need to pass as well but you can put some pressure on this Brazilian defense jump set oh goodness it's the left-handed block that time Anna Patricia who doesn't nibble on the and it's really surprising Kelly's coming in with the power but Anna Patricia is elevating so that pokey that we would expect Cheng to pull out isn't there and Kraft forced into an onto it's a little bit tight can't get the slices looking for it this is the Anna Patricia effect dominant at the net right now what a turnaround for this Brazilian team I did not think this coming I thought the amazing recovery unbelievable seven to one run now for Brazil to the eight to one and is that a miss as well it is Cheng again looking to swing want her to see trust the vision you have the range you have the folks swings aren't working right now find the sand it's surprising it really is surprising it's that you you've got a coach will always say you remain aggressive look like however when that hit is off you've got to stay strong but then be smart there's the shot that we were wanting about three or four points to go and that's what I mean stay strong be smart you've got to fall you got to stay strong because it forces the defense to go up to block quickly it forces the defender to get into position to to honor your hard-hitting ball and then the space opens up oh and Megan Craft gifting it back and Brazil now looking to run away with this second set serving craft save from Anna Patricia another block this one is covered United States scrambling here Kelly Chang losing the ball you're not gonna see a better play than that right there she used to play soccer as a kid before she got into volleyball and you're seeing it on display this is phenomenal supply outrageous anything you want to say through the hands she turns and it's phenomenal up Duda very lively plays it deep just makes USA play and they go into a scramble but what a backup with the block they recover but they can't quite figure out where it's gone 1813 to the line goes Chang to try and silence this raucous crowd that is why you should play with every single part of your body in training because the way Anna Patricia brings it so lucidly to the court nice push up there from Duda Duda down the line is a slight miss they got to be careful right now this is the kind of part of the set where they look like they're accelerating but it's not going to happen naturally in the USA they're dangerous they or especially Kelly Chang she's one of those players that does like to come back from behind another good serve gets the full layout from Duda Duda coming in to send a sizzler off the arm of Megan Kraft what power from the Duda and it's so deep Megan Kraft is sitting deeper in the court but it's just even deeper and it's the power she's just dismantling the defense capabilities of Kraft the option is dug Duda again trying to go to the cutty it's too short that is a bonus point for USA pressure has got to be applied Duda just holding her ground understanding the USA attack really effectively sitting off the shoulders of Anna Patricia but USA now with the serve with the wind in their faces what can they do four point run came in set one at 16 for United States do they have some more magic left in them oh that's a big break Duda the right shot overcooks it now is not the time to be making errors for Brazil because USA nothing to lose they're going to be throwing absolutely every single ounce of determination at their defense the trickler should have been an ace but Duda there USA open net for Kraft night night says Megan Kraft and here come the red white and blue brilliant brilliant by Megan Kraft holding her ground not getting sucked into thinking that Duda's going to do anything other than what she can see great release by Kelly free net run complete deja vu here from set number one for United States good deep serve Duda off the chest look out oh there was a moment there where I thought Anna Patricia was going to mishandle it but managed to get it out clean enough Duda came in strong and Kraft in harm's power again from Duda dismantling USA defense match point number one for Brazil good pickup from Anna Patricia Chang up the middle will score silence among the crowd USA holding on this is the end that they can get two quick points they can get their service pressure Kelly Chang has done it from this end before can she get the plus two and take us to three Duda really brilliant really strong really structured and then just drop that left shoulder put the heat and Kelly gave her way too much line second match point now for Brazil it's a high pass off the net tight ball Chang is gonna miss the swing down the line it is Brazil that hold on in this semi-finals a thriller here in drop a solo they'll be moving on to the gold medal match