Aussie surfer Matt Wilkinson loses Rio Pro opener

AUSTRALIA’S world ratings leader Matt Wilkinson has been pitched into the cutthroat second-round after a tough opening day in Rio.

Matt Wilkinson.

AUSTRALIA’S world ratings leader Matt Wilkinson has been pitched into the cutthroat second-round after a tough opening day for the big names at the men’s World Surf League event in Rio.

While defending event champion Filipe Toledo won in his return to the tour, the news wasn’t so good for compatriots Gabriel Medina and reigning world champion Adriano de Souza.

They, along with Wilkinson and world No. 7 Julian Wilson, will all contest the second round, a less than ideal scenario for event organisers already dealing with the absence of a slew of stars. The one shining light was Toledo, who in his first heat since suffering a groin injury in the season-opening contest on the Gold Coast, proved too good for American tour rookie Kanoa Igarashi and Hawaiian Dusty Payne.

“It definitely feels so good to be back and to put a jersey on,” said Toledo.

“It was hard for me to be away for more than 45 days.

“I didn’t know if those days would be enough time to heal and feel 100 per cent.” Australians Davey Cathels, Adam Melling and Ryan Callinan all won their non-elimination heats to advance straight to round three. Fellow Aussie Wilkinson, who won the opening two events on the tour before a ninth-placed finish at Margaret River, finished third in a heat won by Brazilian wildcard Marco Fernandez.

He will come up against Brazil’s Deivid Silva in the second round.

Australian stars Stephanie Gilmore, Tyler Wright and Sally Fitzgibbons and world ratings leader Courtney Conlogue from the United States all won their first-round heats on day one of the women’s competition.

Gilmore record the highest combined score of 15.93.

“I have been on the beach since 5.30 this morning, so I have waited a long time to surf that heat,” said the six-time world champion.

“I was more or less wanting to get the job done so we could go home, but I actually had fun.

“There is a little bit more water on the bank and there’s a fun right.” Three-time world champ Carissa Moore was downed by American Sage Erickson, forcing the Hawaiian superstar into a second-round clash with local favourite Silvana Lima.

Originally published as Aussie surfer Matt Wilkinson loses Rio Pro opener