French pairing Youssef Krou and Edouard Rowlandson are flying high at the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Sydney ©FIVB

Youssef Krou and Edouard Rowlandson produced one of the stand-out performances of the day at the International Volleyball Federation Beach Volleyball World Tour event at Manly Beach in Sydney.

The French pairing, who renewed their partnership on the Tour in October last year, started with an emphatic straight-sets win in qualifying against Brazil’s Marcio Gaudie and Harley Marquest Silva, 21-19, 21-16.

They then secured a place in the main draw of this three star event with a 21-16, 21-14 win over Canada's Liam MacNeil and Gabriel Burlacu.

"These were tough games and we are happy with our performance," Krou said. 

"We stayed calm and focused and we feel that we have to continue playing like this if we want to progress in the tournament."

Krou added: "Eddy decided to start playing beach volleyball again and since he always wanted to play with me, the national federation decided to give us a new coach, Lissandro Carvalho, who will help us with our campaign for Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024."

The French pair now face the US team of Stafford Slick and William Allen in Pool E.

Vicky Arvaniti and Penny Karagkouni of Greece have won both their qualifying matches in straight sets to earn a place in the women's main draw in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event at Manly Beach, Sydney ©FIVB
Vicky Arvaniti and Penny Karagkouni of Greece have won both their qualifying matches in straight sets to earn a place in the women's main draw in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event at Manly Beach, Sydney ©FIVB

Also celebrating an outstanding qualification series were Vicky Arvaniti and Penny Karagkouni of Greece.

They beat sisters Alice and Johanna Rohkamper of Australia 21-10, 21-16 and followed up with another straight sets victory over Spain's Paula Soria Gutierrez and Maria Belen Carro Marquez de Acuna.

They next meet the US pairing of Brooke Sweat and Kerri Walsh Jennings in the main draw Pool F.

Elsewhere, the home pairing of Taliqua Clancy and Mariafe Artacho Del Solar, women's top seeds and defending champions, will open their first tournament this season with a Pool A match against the Polish pairing of Martyna Kloda and Agata Ceynowa.