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Poor start for Aussies as Brazil set the standard

From Sports Illustrated • Photo Gallery: Images from the Games • Phil Taylor: No letdown for Dream Team • Grant Wahl: U.S., Chinese women produce another classic • E.M. Swift: Stars not aligned for U.S. female gymnasts • Brian Cazenueve: Swimmers cheer for their peers • Jack McCallum: Weightlifting -- A new game for Nott • Michael Farber: Baseball -- Neill has knack for big hits • Richard Hoffer: Watching triathlon is trying • SI For Women's Kelli Anderson: Edwards wants to go out on top | Thompson's chance at individual gold growing shorter • Medal Picks: SI's Predictions More Features • Head Games: Gary Payton • Just Checking In: Hammer Thrower Dawn Ellerbe • 10 Questions: Fencer Ann Marsh • Viewers' Guide: What to watch for • Day at a Glance: Bark with some bite • Wake-up Call: Tracking the day Athletes • Just Checkin' In: Softball pitcher Michele Smith • Athlete Bios: U.S. Rosters Multimedia • Photo Gallery: Making the cut • Photo Gallery: Shots of the Day • Multimedia Central: Photo Galleries, Video and More

SYDNEY, Sept 17 (AFP) - Australia's top seeds Lee Zahner and Julien Prosser got off to a losing start on the opening day of the Olympic men's beach volleyball tournament as Brazil's men served notice they intended to emulate their women's unparalleled record in the event.

Zahner and Prosser were at the wrong end of a 15-12 scoreline against Mexican team Juan Rodriguez Ibarra and Joel Sotelo while the second Aussie pair of Matt Grinlaubs and Joshua Slack were unceremoniously dumped 15-3 by Brazil's top team of Jose Loiola and Emanuel Rego.

There was no disgrace in that result, however, as Loiola and Rego are reigning world champions and regarded by many as the dominant pair in the men's game despite the top seeding for Zahner and Prosser.

Brazil's more successful and more glamorous women's beach volleyballers won gold and silver in Atlanta while the men flopped but on this evidence the men are also the supreme power in the world game too.

The second-string Brazil team of Jose Marco Melo and Ricardo Santos also impressed, easing through their opening match, defeating Sweden's Bjorn Berg and Simon Dahl 15-5.

But Brazil were not the only stars.

Canada's bronze medallists from Atlanta John Child and Mark Heese were equally impressive, seeing off French pair Jean-Philippe Jodard and Christian Penigaud by the same scoreline at Bondi Beach.

America's men are expected to be well in the medal frame despite the absence of outgoing champion Karch Kiraly through injury and Dain Blanton and Eric Fonoimoana began well with a smooth 15-7 success against Andreas Scheuerpflug and Oliver Oetke of Germany.

But Kevin Wong and Robert Heidger junior fared less well losing to Canada's Jody Holden and Conrad Leinemann 17-15 in a keenly contested encounter.

Swiss brothers Paul and Michael Laciga, seen as Europe's leading contenders, had some anxious moments before edging a 15-13 victory over Michal Palinek and Martin Lebl of the Czech Republic.

Portugal's Miguel Maia and Joao Brenha, who just missed out on a medal in Atlanta, also made a winning start, recording a 15-10 victory over Jan Kvalheim and Bjorn Maaseide of Norway.

Argentina had mixed fortunes with Eduardo Martinez and Martin Conde eclipsing Italy's Andrea Raffaelli and Maurizio Pimponi 15-7 but Mariano Baracetti and Jose Salema trounced 15-4 by Russian duo Sergey Ermishin and Mikhail Kouchnerev.

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