Sally Fitzgibbons out of Maui Pro in second round loss
SALLY Fitzgibbons’ dream of a maiden world crown of surfing has been shattered by a young Hawaiian wildcard in a shock result at the Maui Pro.
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SALLY Fitzgibbons’ dream of a maiden world crown of surfing has been shattered by a young Hawaiian wildcard in a shock result at the Maui Pro.
The world No. 1 has been dumped from the world title race after her failure against Brisa Hennessy on Thursday morning in the sudden-death second round.
The loss meant every one of her four rivals had to crash out for her bid to remain alive - a scenario which simply wasn’t going to play out, and she knew it.
Her fate was officially sealed when Tyler Wright dominated her round three heat to continue her march to a second world crown by advancing into the quarter-finals with Stephanie Gilmore.
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“Well that was an interesting day in the office,’’ Fitzgibbons told SWOOP after losing the world crown.
“I tried my best but it wasn’t meant to be.”
In her round two match, Fitzgibbons jumped the first wave to start the heat with a 6.67 with Hennessy retaliating with an 8.50.
Needing a 5.17 as the surf went quiet, Fitzgibbons was unable to achieve the feat.
It was a devastating result with Fitzgibbons in the best position of her career to break through for her first world crown.
After her loss in round two, Fitzgibbons looked to the sky in frustration, her shoulders slumped as she realised her dream had been shattered.
Her loss to Silvana Lima and Hennessy in round one and then the young Hawaiian in round two ended her childhood dream of a world crown.
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“Honestly. I have no words. I am extremely humble,” Hennessy said.
“I have looked up to her (Fitzgibbons) forever.
“I feel very happy.”
Fitzgibbons is a multiple world tour runner-up and was hoping to snare her first world title after 10 years of trying.
Fitzgibbons, Wright and Courtney Conlogue were in the best position to win the world title in the WSL Word Tour finale at Maui before to the event.
However, now only two of the three favourites remain in the race.
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Gilmore was the first Australian to advance into the quarter-finals with a round three win with Wright following soon after with her defeat of Coco Ho and Silvana Lima.