The first elimination rounds of the event put early pressure on the twelve competitors, who were relegated to the tense matchups after losing in Round 1. The Round 2 heats witnessed domination of the top seeds, with the exception of Keely Andrew’s (AUS) staggering win in the final seconds of Heat 6 to eliminate Malia Manuel (HAW).
Brazilian hero Silvana Lima did not disappoint her fans with her win over 2017 Rookie of the Year Bronte Macaulay (AUS) in the second heat of Round 2. Lima stayed busy to deliver a 5.67 (out of a possible 10) and a 6.50 over Macaulay’s 4-point rides. Lima’s hunt for her first-ever CT win in Brazil will continue through to the next round.
“I spent some time watching the waves before my heat, and I knew it was going to be difficult, The lefts were breaking against the current and you’d end up losing speed on them, so I decided to focus on the rights. But, I also knew that Bronte’s (Macaulay) strongpoint is her backside surfing, so I stayed close to her to make it a little harder for her to catch the rights.”
In a dramatic close to Round 2, Andrew clinched the win with a desperate attempt in dying seconds of the heat. Manuel held the lead in the last five minutes, leaving Andrew to chase a 4.60. At the buzzer, Andrew scored a 4.77 to take the win from Manuel. Andrew will now advance to Round 3 where she will face top seeds Tyler Wright (AUS) and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS).
“That heat was a bit frustrating at first, I had a couple of really small scores but other than that I’m happy with how I’m surfing at the moment. I’m definitely leaving that last heat with a lot more confidence.”
Sage Erickson (USA) kicked off the day’s eliminations with her win over Coco Ho (HAW) in the opening heat of Round 2. Currently ranked 14th on the Jeep Leaderboard, Erickson has had two last-place results this year (Gold Coast, Margaret River). The American will now advance to Round 3 where she will face Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and three-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW).
2018 CT Rookie Caroline Marks (USA) stayed confident in Itaúna’s shifting lineup to defeat Paige Hareb (NZL) in Heat 5. Marks found her rhythm mid-way through the matchup with powerful finishing maneuvers, while Hareb struggled to find substantial rides. Hareb is back on the elite CT after falling off in 2014 but has yet to escape the early elimination round in 2018. Today’s result marks her fourth-straight elimination in Round 2.
Marks will advance to Round 3 where she will be up against Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), who eliminated injury replacement Pauline Ado (FRA) in Heat 4.
Johanne Defay (FRA) dispatched event wildcard Taís Almeida (BRA) in Heat 3 with the highest heat score of the day, a 13.83 (out of a possible 20). The Saquarema local fought hard to win her first CT heat, but with only average scores, could not combat the current World No. 6. Almeida will exit in Equal 13th place, while Defay advances to Round 3.
Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Sage Erickson (USA) 9.77 def. Coco Ho (HAW) 9.17
Heat 2: Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.17 def. Bronte Macaulay (AUS) 8.77
Heat 3: Johanne Defay (FRA) 13.83 def. Taís Almeida (BRA) 9.44
Heat 4: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 12.83 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.94
Heat 5: Caroline Marks (USA) 12.66 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 7.33
Heat 6: Keely Andrew (AUS) 8.77 def. Malia Manuel (HAW) 8.60
Oi Rio Women’s Pro Round 3 Matchups:
Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Keely Andrew (AUS)
Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Nikki Van Dijk (AUS), Caroline Marks (USA)
Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA), Johanne Defay (FRA), Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Sage Erickson (USA)
Oi Rio Men’s Pro Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Ian Gouveia (BRA)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tomas Hermes (BRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW), Joan Duru (FRA), Mikey Wright (AUS)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Jesse Mendes (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 6: Julian Wilson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 7: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Connor O’Leary (AUS), Keanu Asing (HAW)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Michael February (ZAF)
Heat 9: Michel Bourez (PYF), Conner Coffin (USA), Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 11: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 12: Kolohe Andino (USA), Frederico Morais (PRT), Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
