As a new prestige beach volleyball tournament makes its debut in Fort Lauderdale this week, high fliers from the powerhouse nations of Brazil and the USA took their rivalry to neutral territory.

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With beach volleyball hitting a new high at the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, American legends Phil Dalhausser and Nick Lucena challenged their top Brazilian rivals, World Champions Alison Cerutti and Bruno Oscar Schmidt, to a private match.

Photocredit: Andreas Langreiter

The teams found a most spectacular, and unexpected, setting: a massive helipad right in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, surrounded by skyscrapers and Atlantic breezes. The solitary setting was a contrast to the rollicking grandstands of the 4,000-seat Center Court at Fort Lauderdale Beach Park, where – with only the world’s top teams in contention at the prestige tournament – every match is like an Olympic preview.

Photocredit: Andreas Langreiter

The action continues for men and women at the Swatch Beach Volleyball FIVB World Tour Finals through the medal rounds on October 3-4.