World Surf League leader Tyler Wright has crashed out the Newcastle Cup along with Olympic surfer Sally Fitzgibbons after competition finally resumed at Merewether on Tuesday.
Wright won the first event of the season in Hawaii in December to take the world No.1 ranking into the first of four Australian events, but was eliminated in the round of 16 by American Courtney Conlogue.
The 27-year-old opted to take a risk, surfing the first part of the heat in the shore break and while she led early, Wright couldn't find the big score she was searching for.
Conlogue, meanwhile, posted a 7.0 which she backed up with a 5.30 while Wright only managed mid fives for her two best waves.
Sally Fitzgibbons also bowed out in a frustrating heat, falling to Queenslander Keely Andrew in an upset.
Former world No.2 Fitzgibbons was starved of waves, while Andrew made the most of her opportunities.
It was just the second time in nine meetings Andrew had beaten the NSW south coast star.
Andrew had priority on the final wave of the heat in the last few seconds, and produced her best score with a 7.40 and after posting a 6.63 earlier earned an emphatic win.
In other early results seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore eliminated rising Australian star Macy Callaghan, while another young local Isabella Nichols overcame Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb.
Australian Associated Press
