Fitzgibbons stuns Simmers in another Bells Beach upset
Australian surfing star Sally Fitzgibbons has knocked world No.1 Caitlin Simmers out of the Rip Curl Pro in another Bells Beach boilover.
Thursday morning's round-of-16 heats opened with top Australian Molly Picklum also suffering a shock loss to Brazilian world junior champion Luana Silva.
Fitzgibbons has reached her first WSL quarter-final in a year, beating Simmers 12.73 to 10.10.
But Picklum's bid for an elusive Bells Beach title has been foiled again, as Silva took down the world No.3 13.66 to 12.64.
Picklum arrived in strong form, reaching the top four in all four World Surf League rounds so far this season and finishing runner-up in two of them.
But after coming second at Bells Beach two years ago, she also failed to make last year's quarter-finals.
Surfing resumed at the Winky Pop break in clean three-to-four-foot conditions.
After finishing runner-up to Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan in the last round at El Salvador, Australian Isabella Nichols had the highest heat score so far on Thursday.
Nichols beat Spaniard Nadia Erostarbe 15.00 to 10.03 and will face Bryan again in the quarters.
Gabby Bryan at a running right point... say less 🗣️You just knew she was going to light it upThe #RipCurlProBellsBeach is LIVE all day on https://t.co/ie0ZfMWjFw@ripcurl @originalbonsoy @visitmelbourne pic.twitter.com/Wxg4jhK13R
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 24, 2025
The men will start their round of 32 after the women's heats.
The last women's heat on Thursday will be an all-Australian duel between two-time world champion Tyler Wright and Ellie Harrison.
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