Current World No. 2 Tyler Wright (AUS) earned the highest single-wave score of the women’s Opening Round, a 7.17 (out of a possible 10). The two-time World Champion hammered several critical turns on her backhand, showing power and control. Wright won this event in 2017 and hopes to do so again to maintain her spot in the Top 5 on the rankings. 

 

California’s current No. 3 Caroline Marks (USA) played spoiler to Brazil’s Tatiana Weston-Webb in Heat 4 of the women’s Opening Round. Weston-Webb was in the lead, but with less than five minutes to go, Marks flipped the heat by stringing together a series of frontside maneuvers and posting a solid 7.00.

“I love surfing on my forehand," said Caroline Marks. "I’m stoked to go left. It feels good to twist your body in a different direction. I’m not letting my guard down. Everyone is so good, and making the Final 5 is everyone's goal. I’m trying to be in the moment as much as possible and enjoy myself. The last few events I’ve been doing that, so I’m going to keep it rolling.”