Aussie beach volleyballers lose to US
Australian beach volleyballers Nikki Laird and Mariafe Artacho del Solar have lost their opening match at the Rio Olympics to highly fancied American pair Kerri Walsh-Jennings and April Ross.
Laird and Artacho went down in straight sets 21-14 21-13 at Copacabana Arena in front of a vocal crowd, despite starting after midnight local time on Sunday.
The former world under-23 champions and medal outsiders put up a valiant fight in what will be by far their toughest pool match, against a team boasting a three-time Olympic gold medallist in Walsh-Jennings.
The duo play their next game against Switzerland on Monday before taking on China on Wednesday.
It comes after Australia's top-ranked team Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy claimed a first-up straight-sets victory over Costa Rican side Karen Charles and Natalia Alfaro on Saturday.
