GERROA’S Sally Fitzgobbons has reached the final eight of the 2018 Vans US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach, thanks to a dominant performance in round three.
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In heat three of the third round, current world number two from the United States Lakey Peterson unleashed a powerful forehand attack to earn an excellent 8.33, the highest single-scoring wave of the Women’s CT event so far.
But in the end, it was former US Open winner Sally Fitzgibbons (13.60) who overcame Peterson (12.40) and Hawaii’s Coco Ho (12.00) for the heat win.
“I think anything’s possible and you just have to be ready for anything,” Fitzgibbons said.
“I’m definitely feeling it and just love that after 12 years it still feels like my first US Open.
“It doesn’t really phase me too much whether you’re matching up against the top seeds of the moment or the lower ones.
“I find all the battles are just so close and you have to bring your best surfing.”
Fitzgibbons will now battle US’ Caroline Marks in the quarter-finals.
Vans US Open Women's CT round three results:
Heat one: Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.16, Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.90, Pauline Ado (FRA) 7.87
Heat two: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 13.54, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 11.46, Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.07
Heat three: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.60, Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.40, Coco Ho (HAW) 12.00
Heat four: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 13.90, Caroline Marks (USA) 11.70, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 10.26
Vans US Open Women’s CT quarter-final matchups:
Quarter-final one: Johanne Defay (FRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Quarter-final two: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) vs. Carissa Moore (HAW)
Quarter-final three: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA)
Quarter-final four: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
