Just like last year, the 2018 World Tour actually started already in September last year with some minor tournaments. We saw some better teams at the 3-star Qinzhou Open in China in October. The surprising winners back then were Sivolap-Velichko from Russia.
The first real test was quite early in 2018. The indoor beach courts in the Hague, the Netherlands, hosted the first 4-star event. The newly formed Latvian team Plavins-Tocs enjoyed a brilliant tournament, showed really impressive beach volleyball and outplayed the Poles Kantor-Losiak in the final. The Latvians looked great so early in the season, I am curious how far they can go in their development as a team.
In two weeks' time we have the 3-star Kish Island Open which is followed by the first Major event of the year in Fort Lauderdale. Gradually we should see most of the top teams on court.