Nadezda Makroguzova and Svetlana Kholomina of Russia claimed their first four-star title ©FIVB

Nadezda Makroguzova and Svetlana Kholomina of Russia claimed their first International Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball World Tour four-star title with victory in the women's final in Portugal.

The Russian pair beat Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil of the United States 21-17, 21-16 to secure the gold medal in Espinho.

The two-time Under-21 World Championship silver medallists' previous best World Tour result was gold at a one-star event in Anapa last year.

"We are so happy with this first place," said Makroguzova.

"This is the result of long hours of hard work by our national team coaches, managers, federation and, of course, our family. 

"I want to thank all the people who were in the stands."

The Russian pair beat Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil of the United States in the final ©FIVB
The Russian pair beat Kelly Claes and Sarah Sponcil of the United States in the final ©FIVB

The bronze medal was claimed by Ana Patricia Silva Ramos and Rebecca Cavalcanti Barbosa Silva as the top seeds won an all-Brazilian third-place play-off against Agatha Bednarczuk and Eduarda Santos Lisboa.

Ramos and Silva got the better of their team mates with a battling 21-18, 18-21 15-12 triumph.

Olympic gold medallist Alison Cerutti and Alvaro Morais Filho of Brazil will face Latvia's Martins Plavins and Edgars Tocs in the first men's semi-final tomorrow.

The contest will be followed by the clash between Brazil's George Wanderley and Andre Loyola Stein and Chile's Marco and Esteban Grimalt.