Dalhausser and Rogers, a pair that can always grasp crucial moment
22/8/2008 17:42
After playing three sets, Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers won the men's
beach volleyball tournament title at the Beijing Olympics today.
The US duo
didn't play well in the preliminary round, losing to a relatively unknown
Latvian pair in the first preliminary match. But as matches went on, the two
have been performing better and better.
Dalhausser said the setback in the
preliminary round was a good "gift" for them as they could draw a lesson from
the loss and did a better job later. "It was a gift and then we left things go
on for us," Dalhausser said on his feelings about experiencing the first setback
but finishing first finally.
The two have strong will to win. The will can be
easily felt when they are in difficult situations.
In several matches prior
to the final, the US duo were forced into passive position. But Rogers,
nicknamed "the Professer"and Dalhausser, nicknamed "the Thin Beast", appeared
psychologically undisturbed.
They did their things and in a few minutes,
things turned around and they leveled the scoreboard and won the match finally.
"We're relaxed, we don't stress, we just do our things," said Rogers.
"We
hate to lose and maybe even more so than anyone else," said Rogers, who is
nicknamed "The Professor" for his extensive experience on the beach.
"We got
off to a slow start, but once we got it through, we got it going,"said
Dalhausser, whose efficiency at the net is always a problem for almost all
players in the world.
The two said their partnership was perfect.
"We're
not just great on the court, we're great off the court. In the first set (of the
final) we came back after being down 6-1. That's a testament to the way he is,
and the way I am," said Dalhausser.
"We compliment each other well. I like to
describe myself as quietly intense and I would describe him in a similar
manner," Rogers said.
Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, the 2007 world
champions and now the Olympics gold medalists, had been widely considered to be
gold favorites at the Beijing Games. But Dalhausser said he didn't want to be
considered gold favorites.
"We're confident but we hate to say we're
favourites. In my opinion Ricardo and Emanuel (of Brazil, Athens Games
champions) are the favorites," said Dalhausser. "But being considered favourite
is pretty cool," he said.
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