Kiraly’s Bid for Gold Starts With Victory

Karch Kiraly and Kent Steffes powered past Italy’s Andrea Ghiurghi and Nicola Grigolo, 15-7, and the two other American teams also won opening-round men’s matches at Jonesboro, Ga.

Sinjin Smith and Carl Henkel, the highest-seeded U.S. men’s team, won, 15-7, over Portugal’s Luis Maia and Joao Brenha.

Mike Dodd and Mike Whitmarsh were 15-10 winners over Australia’s Julien Prosser and Lee Zahner.

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The top American women’s team of Holly McPeak and Janet Reno scored the final 11 points for a 15-6 victory over Germany’s Beate Buhler and Danja Musch in the second round of the double-elimination tournament.

But Barbra Fontana Harris and Linda Hanley blew an 8-5 lead against Brazil’s Monica Rodrigues and Adriana Samuel and lost, 15-10.

Australia’s Natalie Cook and Kerri Pottharst started fast in a 15-7 victory over Americans Gail Castro and Deb Richardson.