Margaret River Pro: Sally Fitzgibbons, Tyler Wright make early mark
MULTIPLE world champion Stephanie Gilmore and Laura Enever have joined Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons in the quarter-finals of the Margaret River Pro.
Women's sport
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WORLD title contender Tyler Wright, Sally Fitzgibbons, Laura Enever and Stephanie Gilmore have ensured a strong Aussie presence in the quarter-finals of the Margaret River Pro after the top surfers booked spots in the business end of the tournament in Western Australia.
Australians will now make up half the women in the quarter-finals of the third leg of the world surf league tour.
But not all did it the easy way with Gilmore and Enever having to fight for surival in round four before securing their sports.
Multiple world champion Gilmore, rising star Wright and the injury wildcard Bronte Macauley matched-up in one of the most anticipated heats of the event after a day off so the men’s competition could run.
In 1.5m waves at Main Break, Gilmore gained control midway through the round three heat but Wright had to wait until the final 12 seconds of the heat to catch a wave which moved her from last to first — and directly into the quarter-finals of the event.
“That was borderline,’’ Wright said. “But there was nothing else that came through.
“I was stoked I did get it.’’
Gilmore was sent into the elimination fourth round but advance into the quarters with her victory over Sage Erickson. Laura Enever also advanced after beating Hawaiian Malia Manuel.
Earlier Fitzgibbons became the first Australian to earn a spot in the quarter-finals with her victory over Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb and Enever.
Fitzgibbons finished runner-up to current world No. 1 Courtney Conlogue at the last world championship event at Bells Beach just over a week ago.
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