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The Rip Curl Newcastle Cup presented by Corona, the second stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2021 Championship Tour (CT), saw a dramatic day in its first elimination rounds in three-to-four foot surf at Merewether.
All surfers in the Top 5, except for World Champions Carissa Moore (HAW) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), fell early in today’s elimination rounds, including current World No. 1 Tyler Wright (AUS), No. 3 Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), No. 3 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), and No. 5 Lakey Peterson (USA).
World No. 1 Tyler Wright Eliminated Early from Newcastle
Wright, the two-time WSL Champion, leaves Newcastle in equal 9th place after falling short to Californian Courtney Conlogue (USA) in Heat 4 of the Round of 16. Wright immediately opted to surf the inside, while Conlogue kept to the outside sets. Conlogue’s decision secured her a strong lead with a 7.00 (out of a possible 10) and 5.30 backup score. Wright was unable to find the 6.64 required to advance.
Keely Andrew, Isabella Nichols, and Bronte Macaulay Breakthrough to Quarterfinals
After a near-miss in the Elimination Round, Sunshine Coaster Keely Andrew (AUS) was looking for redemption when she took on event standout Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Round of 16. Andrew took down the perennial title threat and will now progress into the Quarterfinals. Andrew looked sharp in the matchup, easily beating Fitzgibbons with a commendable 14.23 heat total (out of a possible 20). Andrew puts some of her performance down to the mock heats she surfed in the lead-up to the event with two-time WSL World Champion Gabriel Medina, who shares coach Andy King.
CT rookie Isabella Nichols (AUS) has marked the highest placing in her career so far with a Quarterfinal entry. Nichols eliminated World No. 3 Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in the Round of 16 and will now face seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) in the first Quarterfinal matchup.
After a disappointing end to the 2019 season, perennial title hopeful Lakey Peterson (USA) is still yet to put herself in the World Champion conversation in 2021 after backing up a 5th at Maui with an equal 9th at Merewether today. Peterson was unable to find a rhythm against the lethal backhand attack of Bronte Macaulay (AUS) and will head to the Rip Curl Narrabeen Classic looking for no less than a Quarterfinal finish as she looks to get her 2021 season back on track.
O’Leary Celebrates Connection To His Japanese Heritage with Updated Jersey
Connor O’Leary (AUS) narrowly escaped elimination in the final heat of the men’s Elimination Round, dispatching CT rookie Matthew McGillivray (ZAF). O’Leary and Michel Bourez (FRA) now advance to the Round of 32 where they will face Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Griffin Colapinto (USA), respectively.
Throughout his heats in Newcastle, O’Leary has sported a jersey with dual flags: Australia, representative of his home country, and Japan, representing his Japanese heritage. The Japanese flag is also a tribute to his mother, Akemi, who passed a love of competitive surfing down to her son alongside the knowledge and appreciation of his Japanese heritage.
Near-Perfect Score for Fioravanti, Wright and Wilson Escape Early Elimination
Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) flew out of the Elimination Round with the highest single-wave score of the event so far, a near-perfect 9.00 (out of a possible 10), and the best combined, two-wave total of the men’s heats so far, a 15.67 (out of a possible 20). Fioravanti in first and Conner Coffin (USA) in second, Jadson Andre (BRA) was eliminated in equal 17th place.
Olympic qualifiers Owen Wright (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) found success in the first and second heats of the Elimination Rounds, respectively. Wright’s opening heat saw injury replacement Matt Banting (AUS) lose in third, while Wilson’s heat sent Mikey Wright (AUS) out of the event.
Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Elimination Round 2 Results: HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 13.00 DEF. Keely Andrew (AUS) 6.63, Malia Manuel (HAW) 3.67 HEAT 2: Macy Callaghan (AUS) 11.34 DEF. Johanne Defay (FRA) 9.00, Sage Erickson (USA) 5.30 Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Round of 16 Results: HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 10.93 HEAT 2: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 14.10 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 12.53 HEAT 3: Keely Andrew (AUS) 14.23 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 9.23 HEAT 4: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.30 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.74 HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.93 DEF. Philippa Anderson (AUS) 8.34 HEAT 6: Johanne Defay (FRA) 12.60 DEF. Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 9.23 HEAT 7: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 10.83 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 8.33 HEAT 8: Caroline Marks (USA) 8.66 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRI) 7.93 Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Women’s Quarterfinals Matchups: HEAT 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) HEAT 2: Keely Andrew (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA) HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA) HEAT 4: Bronte Macaulay (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Elimination Round 2 Results: HEAT 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 13.77 DEF. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.66, Matt Banting (AUS) 11.00 HEAT 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.80 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 10.90, Mikey Wright (AUS) 8.67 HEAT 3: Michel Bourez (FRA) 13.34 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 11.33, Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 8.43 HEAT 4: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 15.67 DEF. Conner Coffin (USA) 12.33, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.40 Rip Curl Newcastle Cup pres. by Corona Men’s Round of 32 Matchups: HEAT 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (AUS) HEAT 2: Frederico Morais (PRT) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS) HEAT 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) HEAT 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS) HEAT 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Wade Carmichael (AUS) HEAT 7: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) HEAT 8: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) HEAT 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS) HEAT 10: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) |