First came the finesse then the power as Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho del Solar defied quarter-final nerves to get within reach of a second Olympic medal.
The Australian beach volleyball pair, second in Tokyo three years ago, progressed to the Paris final four after a 21-19 16-21 15-12 defeat of Switzerland in Tuesday’s twilight fixture.
Peru-born Artacho del Solar was brilliant in a first quarter as Clancy made eight service errors, before the Swiss pair of Esmee Boebner and Zoe Verge-Depre roared back in the second set.
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Clancy then returned the favour with three clean block winners to snuff out the challenge, to the dismay of the pro-Swiss crowd assembled under the glowing Eiffel Tower.
The Australian’s side-out game was exquisite, the pair disarming serves and wrong-footing the Swiss duo with savvy net play and winning several points they had no right to with desperate defence.
“So proud of how we really stayed true and trusted our game, even though things didn’t always feel perfect,” Clancy said.
“I’m just so happy that Mariafe stuck by me while I was trying to get myself back into the game.
“That’s what got us the win, really.”
Asked of her early service struggles, Kingaroo product Clancy was blunt: “It’s a great question, I think I just was a p***y.”