Tandara Caixeta, top scorer thus far of the FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup, celebrates win over Russia on the opening day of the competition.
Lausanne, Switzerland, Septermber 5, 2017 - Defending champions Brazil take on China as both sides look at remaining undefeated at the 2017 FIVB Women's World Grand Champions Cup Wednesday in Tokyo, with top scorers of the opening day Tandara Caixeta (28 points) and Zhu Ting (21) go head-to-head. It is the third time in the history of the competition that Brazil and China meet, with the South Americans leading the series 2-1.
Head-to-Head• Brazil and China have met three times before at the Grand Champions Cup.
• Their first encounter came in 1997, when Brazil won in straight sets. Brazil also won the last encounter at the 2005 Grand Champions Cup in five sets. In 2001, China won 3-1.
• Their most recent meeting came at the 2017 World Grand Prix. China won in straight sets.
• China defeated Brazil in five sets in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games quarterfinals en route to their Olympic title.
Brazil• Brazil opened their 2017 Grand Champions Cup campaign with a 3-1 win against Russia.
• In each of the last three editions, Brazil won their opening two matches. The last time they failed to do so was in 2001 when they started with two defeats.
• Brazil's only defeat in their last 16 matches at the Grand Champions Cup came in straight sets against Italy in 2009. Italy went on to win the title.
• Brazil are on a roll in 2017, winning the World Grand Prix and the South American Championship.
• Tandara Caixeta scored 28 points against Russia, at least twice the amount of any of her teammates.
China• China started with a 3-1 win against United States at the 2017 Grand Champions Cup.
• In 1993 and 2001 they also opened with a victory, but only in 2001 they managed to win their first two matches as they won all five and claimed their only trophy in the competition.
• China have won their last four matches at the Grand Champions Cup and could win five in a row for the second time, after their run of five in 2001.
• This year, China finished in fourth place at both the World Grand Prix and the Asian Championship.
• Zhu Ting scored 21 points against United States, the only player of both teams to reach 20 points.