China's Olympic champion finally came to life, and crushed a lethargic Brazil in straight sets on the fourth day of the World Grand Prix finals Sunday.

China won 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-19) in just 69 minutes to send the defending Grand Prix champion to its first defeat of the week.

It is China's second win of the WGP finals after beating the Netherlands 3-1 Saturday.

While China improved their win-loss record to 2-2, Brazil slipped to 3-1, the same as Italy.

China's head coach Chen Zhonghe was very happy with Saturday's match. "The players were in very good condition, even before they came to the gymnasium. The offense was smooth, but Brazil's attack was not working as well as it can do," he said.

Brazil's head coach Jose Guimaraes said his players were nervous and impatient and made a lot of mistakes. "Against Brazil, all the teams are trying really hard to win, and I felt that way about China. Our serving and blocking were not working," he said.

A fired-up China dominated the first set, winning 25-18.

Yang Hao and Zhou Suhong had four spikes apiece in the first set, and captain and setter Feng Kun had two blocks.

The second set continued in similar fashion, and Guimaraes was having difficulty motivating his players. 

China, on the other hand, were playing with the zest and the spirit that won them the gold medal in the Athens Olympics last summer, even though this form has come too late to win the World Grand Prix.

Leading 24-17 in the second set, Yang's powerful spike from the left was touched by a Brazilian blocker, handing the second set to China.

With Zhang Ping dominant at the net, China led 8-3 at the first technical break of the third set, as Brazil's offense fired sporadically.

China built up a fluid attacking rhythm that Brazil could not stem, despite a number of substitutions.

However, a booming serve from Welissa "Sassa" Gonzaga caused a rare moment of confusion on the China side, so much so that head coach Chen Zhonghe felt it necessary to call a time-out with his team leading 12-8.

China led by six, 16-10, at the second technical break, and Brazil did not look capable of staging a comeback.

With the match rapidly sliding from view, Guimaraes called a time-out with Brazil behind 22-17, but to no avail.

Editor: Donald