The teams have met many times on the world stage, with the Canadians besting the Australians in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games gold medal match, and Clancy and Artacho getting the better of them in a World Tour event in 2018 last time the teams met.

The 2019 world champion Canadians are unbeaten in Tokyo and are yet to drop a set, beating Spain’s Liliana and Elsa in straight sets in the round of 16 after a perfect three from three in straight sets through the pool stages. 

The Australians are finding their form at the right time, showing their class in a dominant straight sets victory over China in the round of 16. 

Adding to the game, the two teams are close friends and training partners, with the teams having multiple joint training sessions on the Tokyo sand before the Olympic tournament started as part of their Games preparation. 

The Aussie duo are excited to test themselves against the top seeds and good friends on the biggest stage. 

“The last time we played them was back in 2018, which is so crazy,” Clancy said. “We’re training partners and constantly with each on tour but we always just seemed to miss each other in finals never matched up in the same pools – I think we were destined to meet in this tournament.” 

“We know it'll be a really tough match. We had a training camp before we even came to Tokyo from Switzerland, and we’ve had some joint sessions here in Tokyo before the Games started. We know each other so well, there aren’t too many weapons that we can keep under wraps from each other, but if we can keep playing our game, anything can happen 

“Mel and Sarah are world champions and Just two very experienced, great players. Mel’s really good in the back court is and Sarah is quite big at the net, which I think really suits the conditions of how the ball’s been travelling in the air in these tournament conditions.  

“It’s important for us to bring that spread that we have from the win against China - now we’re knock out rounds and we love that, it’s so exciting and I think that helps us bring our game to that extra level. 

“From what we've seen in other rounds, aggression is key - the team that comes out the most aggressive, it might not benefit them straight away, but the longer the match goes that, that’s definitely an advantage.” 

Artacho del Solar said she was ready to do battle in her first Olympic quarter final. 

“It's going to be a great game,” Artacho del Solar said. “We know each other so well, and there’s so much respect between us, it's going to be a battle.  

“Me and Mel are like sisters, we came up through junior ranks and on the tour and we just love each other. But on court we flip that switch and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get the win.” 

“Even though we constantly train with each other, we so rarely come up against each other in tournament play – it was bound to happen at the biggest. This is my first Olympic quarter-final but I’m treating it like any other tournament, I’m here for business – we’re ready.” 

The knockout quarter-final will start 11pm AEST Tuesday night, watch live and free on Seven and 7Plus. 

Dominic Sullivan