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Sally Fitzgibbons defeats world No. 1 on day one of Margaret River Pro

Jasper BruceNCA NewsWire
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Sally Fitzgibbons made the quarter-finals at Bells Beach. Ed Sloane/World Surf League
Camera IconSally Fitzgibbons made the quarter-finals at Bells Beach. Ed Sloane/World Surf League Credit: Supplied

Aussie fan favourite Sally Fitzgibbons has continued her resurgence by defeating world No. 1 Carissa Moore on day one of the Margaret River Pro.

Joining Fitzgibbons in the next round will be fellow Aussie Tyler Wright, who moved one step closer to repeating her Bells Beach heroics by winning her heat.

Fitzgibbons loves surfing at Margaret River – she won the event in 2017 and has finished third on four occasions.

However, she began 2022 in a slump, bowing out of her first three events in the round of 16.

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Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach
Camera IconSally Fitzgibbons made the quarter-finals at Bells Beach. Ed Sloane/World Surf League Credit: Supplied

Fitzgibbons advanced to the quarter-finals at Bells Beach earlier this month, and after defeating Moore on Monday, said she was hoping to keep improving at Margaret River.

“It’s awesome. Believe in miracles, you’ve just got to keep climbing,” said Fitzgibbons, who finished her heat with a score of 12.83.

“I was definitely in a pickle as everyone was aware at the start of the season. I’m just here to enjoy it, see how far I can go. That’s always the goal, I’m here to do my best surfing.

“I’ve just got to keep applying myself and see what happens.”

Moore is still in the hunt for glory at Margaret River, advancing to the round of 16 despite finishing second in her heat with a score of 10.50.

Aussie Stephanie Gilmore finished second in her heat, narrowly edged out by fellow Aussie Molly Picklum, but also remains in the fight; no surfer is eliminated directly from the opening round, but the lowest scorers at the end of the heats are relegated to an elimination round.

More to come

Originally published as Sally Fitzgibbons defeats world No. 1 on day one of Margaret River Pro

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