Brazil beat Italy on the sand in Moscow ©ITF/Twitter

Brazil denied Italy a second successive Beach Tennis World Team Championships title in Moscow today with victory in the final.

Joana Cortez and Rafaella Miiller beat Federica Bachetta and Giulia Gasparri 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in a tight but crucial opening contest.

Marcus Vinicius Ferreira and Thales Oliviera Santos then overcame Michele Cappelletti and Luca Carli 6-4, 6-4.

This opened up a decisive 2-0 margin of victory for the South Americans, with the third rubber consequently not played.

Brazil and Italy players line up at the start of their final ©ITF/Twitter
Brazil and Italy players line up at the start of their final ©ITF/Twitter

The six-day event is a mixed competition in which each team is comprised of two men and two women.

They usually played men’s doubles, women’s doubles and a mixed doubles match.

Hosts Russia beat France 3-0 to clinch bronze.

In the corresponding junior competition, Italy did take gold with a 3-0 win over France.

Brazil won 2-0 against Venezuela in the battle for bronze.