Over the centuries, many have gone to South America in search of gold. Team USA have undertaken the modern quest for El Dorado, the lost city of gold, at the 2019 Pan American Games. Their quest begins in Lima, Peru. Both the women and men posted a perfect run through the group stage, advancing to their respective quarterfinals. There, the USA women Wu Yue, Lily Zhang and Amy Wang faced Cuba, posting a perfect 3-0 sweep. Their countrymen Kanak Jha, Nikhil Kumar and Nicholas Tio were met by Puerto Rico. An opening round 3-1 win in doubles presaged their final 3-1 victorious scoreline. Both teams therefore advanced to the semifinals. In the Pan Am Games, there is no third placel match between vanquished semifinalists, but rather each is issued a bronze. With medals assured, each USA team now faces Brazil for a spot in the finals. The USA women are the top seeds, facing third-ranked Brazil. For the men, it is the reverse, as the third-seeded USA faces the prohibitive favorites of world #6 Hugo Calderano and his Brazilian compatriots. As in centuries past, the quest for El Dorado continues to motivate blade-wielding South American explorers. While such undertakings are inherently uncertain, at minimum Team USA have successfully discovered that the road thereto leads through Brazil.

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