The stakes could not have been higher, but Australian Tyler Wright held her nerve to secure back-to-back world surfing titles after winning her quarter-final at the season-ending Maui Women’s Pro.
The way the cards fell at the tournament in Hawaii, Wright knew victory over local wildcard Brisa Hennessy in the last-eight heat would bring her a second world crown. Defeat would have left the door open to challengers Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore.
But an early 8.50 score in effect put paid to the hopes of her rivals and the 23-year-old, wearing heavy strapping on her right knee, went on to a seemingly comfortable victory at odds with the pressure she was facing.
Wright tore the MCL in her knee just before October’s Champions Tour event in Portugal, but made light of the injury to not only return to competition quickly, but ultimately go on to mirror the success of last year.
Afterwards, Wright paid tribute to her coach, Glenn Hall, and the rest of her support crew. “We’ve just had a sick team,” she said. “All through the year, we’ve had little ups and downs. I’ve had the most amazing conversations over the last couple of months with the entire team, from knee injuries to me getting mentally and physically prepared for this. That’s what the last couple of weeks have been about.
“Working with Glenn over the last two years has been incredible. We had this long plan and I plan to stick to it. Going back-to-back is true testament to his dedication and the work he puts in non-stop. It takes a team to do this.”
Heading into the final event of the season, five women were still in with a shout of overall victory – Wright and her fellow Australians Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons, and Americans Moore and Courtney Conlogue.
Fitzgibbons’ dream of a first world title was crushed yet again in a surprise second-round defeat to Hennessy on Thursday, before Conlogue was edged out by Nikki Van Dijk in Friday’s fourth round at Honolua Bay.
That left Wright, Gilmore and Moore in the running, but with Wright sitting above the other two women in the World Surf League rankings, all she needed was to see off Hennessy.
Wright, who moves into a semi-final against Gilmore, is pursuing just her second tour win this season, to add to victory at the Oi Rio Pro.
Ominously for her rivals, she said she did not intend to stop at two world titles, having drawn level with Lynne Boyer of Hawaii and closer to Moore, who has three under her belt. Layne Beachley with seven still remains the benchmark, while Gilmore has six to her name.
“I decided in 2015 that I was going to win one every year and I want to hold true to that,” Wright said.
