Lausanne, Switzerland, July 21, 2017 - Japan and Serbia come head-to-head Saturday in Hong Kong for the ninth time in FIVB World Grand Prix history, with the series tied at 4-4. But this season Serbia, the Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallists, have only dropped a single match - that to defending champions Brazil. This is a rematch of last weekend's game in Sendai where Serbia beat the hosts in straight sets.
Head-to-Head• Japan have lost their last two major encounters with Serbia, following a straight sets victory over them in the World Grand Prix last season.
• These teams also met last weekend, with Serbia completing a straight sets victory over hosts Japan in Sendai.
• They have each won four of the eight World Grand Prix matches facing each other.
Japan• Japan have won four of their seven 2017 World Grand Prix matches, with three of those victories coming in a deciding set.
• Prior to the start of this year's World Grand Prix, Japan had lost nine of their previous 10 five-setters in the tournament.
• Japan could win more than four matches in a single World Grand Prix campaign for the first time since 2014 (8).
Serbia• Serbia have won six of their seven 2017 World Grand Prix matches, with the only exception the straight-set defeat against Brazil.
• Only twice before have Serbia won more matches in a single World Grand Prix campaign – 10 in both 2011 and 2013.
• Only one of Serbia's seven 2017 World Grand Prix fixtures has not been decided in straight sets, the 3-1 victory against Thailand.
• Serbia have won four of their last five World Grand Prix matches that have gone to a deciding set, having been victorious in only three of their first 14 five-setters in the competition.