LONDON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- China's Chen Xue and Zhang Xi will take on the defending champions American Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh in the semifinals of the women's beach volleyball event.

Xue/Zhang, the bronze medallists of Beijing Olympics, marched into the semifinals by beating Austrian sisters Doris Schwaiger/Stefanie Schwaiger 21-18 and 21-11.

Twice champion Walsh and May-Treanor made into the last four with a 21-13, 21-13 victory over Italians Greta Cicolari and Marta Menegatti.

Chen/Zhang beat the Americans in emphatic style in the final of the Moscow Grand Slam in the most recent match between the two sides.

"We have played with them seven times, and we have won four times. It's shame we missed them at the Beijing Games. So, it's very exciting to meet them here. We have walked a long way to reach the semifinals. We have nothing to fear," said Xue Chen, the younger partner.

Another American team April Ross/Jennifer Kessy, the fourth seed of event, will take on the top seed Larissa Franca/Juliana Felisberta Da Silva from Brazil.

April Ross/Jennifer Kessy overpowered Marketa Slukova/Kristyna Kolocova from Czech Republic 25-23, 21-18 to sail into the semifinals, while the Brazilians made the way to their first Olympic gold medal after beating Sara Goller/Laura Ludwig from Germany 21-10, 21-19.

The semifinals will take place on Aug. 7. Enditem

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