May-Treanor, Walsh grab second to China’s Chen Xu/Zhang Xi in beach volleyball event

With just six weeks before the start of the Summer Games, the top two finishers in the SWATCH 2012 Tour Grand Slam event in Moscow, Russia today proved they are once more ready for the Olympics.

These two Beijing Olympics medalists competed for the title. China’s bronze medaling Chen Xu and Zhang Xi  laid a smack-down on USA’s gold medalist Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in today’s finals,  21-14, 21-14.

“They earned it. We did not attack them enough. I know we can play a lot better and that on the other hand makes me happy,’’ said Walsh in a FIVB press release.

Ranked two-three in the Olympic rankings respectively, both Chinese and American pairs swept through the five-day event without a single loss, leading up to the finals.

The Chinese pair bested top teams from Australia, Germany, and then Brazil – most of whom have already qualified for the London Olympics.  They split a $43,500 winner’s prize purse.

via May-Treanor, Walsh grab second to China’s Xue/Zhang Xi in beach volleyball event – National beach volleyball | Examiner.com.