Favourites Brazil and Cuba reach semi-finals

BEIJING (AFP) - Gold medal favourites Brazil eased past Japan in the women's volleyball quarter-finals on Tuesday with a comfortable 25-12, 25-20, 25-16 victory.
Brazil will face either the United States or World Cup holders Italy in the semi-finals while Cuba, who defeated Serbia 26-24, 25-19, 26-24 in the other morning quarter-final, will face either hosts and reigning champions China or world champions Russia in the last four.
Brazil, who have won the World Grand Prix in four of the last five years, came storming out of the blocks against Japan and breezed through the first set with minimal fuss.
Japan put up more of a fight in the second and briefly held a two-point lead in the third set but once star spikers Sheila Castro, Fabiana Claudino and Paula Pequeno found their range, the Brazilians cantered off into the distance for a comfortable victory.
"We just weren't able to do anything against them," admitted Japan's Miyuki Takahashi, who was restricted to a measly seven points.
"They didn't allow us to play our game, they crushed us."
Brazil are hoping to erase the nightmare of four years ago when they blew a 24-19 lead in the fourth set, while leading 2-1 in sets, against Russia to eventually come away without a medal - losing to Cuba for bronze.
However, despite their Grand Prix success, in the intervening years they have again faltered at the final hurdle, losing again to Russia in the World Championships final in 2006 and then to Italy in last year's World Cup final.
It has all added to the feeling that they are mentally brittle.