Aussie goes wild after becoming new world No.1

Molly Picklum celebrates WSL title in Brazil.
Australian surfer Molly Picklum has shown why she's top of the women's World Surfing League standings, claiming her first win on tour this season in Saquarema, Brazil.
After beating Canadian Erin Brooks 13.06 to 7.60 earlier on Sunday (Monday AEST) in the second semi-final, Picklum took on local Luana Silva in the final of the Vivo Rio Pro, stop 9 of the competition.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Molly Picklum celebrates her title in Brazil.
Picklum opened with a 6.83 and followed it up with the highest single wave score of the event for the women, an 8.17. Her final total of 15.00 was also the highest of the event for the women at Praia de Itauna.
Silva's best two-wave score totalled 9.23, well short of being able to stop Picklum winning the event for the third time.
Picklum was chaired off after emerging from the water, letting out a huge yell in excitement of the achievement.
'She's (Silva) been surfing so well. I knew she's such a competitor and she's such a fighter,' said the 22-year-old from Gosford.
'I was pretty scared all the way till the end even though I had a couple of good scores. But yeah, she's capable of great things and I'm so happy to get that one over her.' Aussie Molly Picklum enjoys the spoils of her triumph in Rio de Janeiro. Credit: AAP
The WSL Tour's most consistent women's surfer in 2025 — reaching the quarter-finals in eight out of nine events, including three Finals - Picklum enjoys top spot with just two regular-season events remaining on the calendar.
'I've worked so hard this year to really put my best foot forward,' she added.
'I've dreamt so much of winning here in Rio, too. I'm a real energetic person, I love the Brazilian energy, and to get a win this year means so much for sure.
'Thank you so much and shout out to everyone back at home. I know you're all probably up watching and I felt all the love.'
In the men's draw, Aussie Ethan Ewing was beaten in the semis by American Griffin Colapinto, 14.84 to 14.20, after earlier downing defending champion and home hope Italo Ferreira (14.43-13.30) in the quarters.
Colapinto was then out-gunned 16.90 to 14.40 by compatriot Cole Houshmand in the decider, who went two-for-two in CT Finals, backing up his 2024 breakthrough win at Bells Beach with another victory.

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Popyrin humbled at Wimbledon as ailing Tommo saves day

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Popyrin humbled at Wimbledon as ailing Tommo saves day

Big hope Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon sensationally to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's calamitous start to the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday. As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the huge Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing. But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's defeat as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Sydneysider Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15. It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory. The 31-year-old battler summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments. In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but at what cost? 'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Earlier, under blue skies more redolent of her Gold Coast home than London, Birrell achieved the unenviable distinction of being the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships. The 27-year-old, making her debut at the grass court slam, never recovered from a nervy start in which she surrendered the first set to No.22 seed and last year's semi-finalist Donna Vekic without winning a game. A much-improved battling second set prompted hope, at 4-4, of the Victorian forcing a decider, but the Croatian star then completed a 6-0 6-4 victory in 79 minutes. Birrell, who saved one match point but then watched her forehand shoot long on the second, left the English capital with some hard-earned experience and Stg 66,000 ($A138,500) as her reward for battling through qualifying. O'Connell found the ever tricky, veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours. Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra in one hour 40 minutes. Big hope Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon sensationally to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's calamitous start to the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday. As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the huge Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing. But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's defeat as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Sydneysider Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15. It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory. The 31-year-old battler summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments. In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but at what cost? 'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Earlier, under blue skies more redolent of her Gold Coast home than London, Birrell achieved the unenviable distinction of being the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships. The 27-year-old, making her debut at the grass court slam, never recovered from a nervy start in which she surrendered the first set to No.22 seed and last year's semi-finalist Donna Vekic without winning a game. A much-improved battling second set prompted hope, at 4-4, of the Victorian forcing a decider, but the Croatian star then completed a 6-0 6-4 victory in 79 minutes. Birrell, who saved one match point but then watched her forehand shoot long on the second, left the English capital with some hard-earned experience and Stg 66,000 ($A138,500) as her reward for battling through qualifying. O'Connell found the ever tricky, veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours. Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra in one hour 40 minutes. Big hope Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon sensationally to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's calamitous start to the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday. As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the huge Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing. But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's defeat as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Sydneysider Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15. It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory. The 31-year-old battler summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments. In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but at what cost? 'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Earlier, under blue skies more redolent of her Gold Coast home than London, Birrell achieved the unenviable distinction of being the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships. The 27-year-old, making her debut at the grass court slam, never recovered from a nervy start in which she surrendered the first set to No.22 seed and last year's semi-finalist Donna Vekic without winning a game. A much-improved battling second set prompted hope, at 4-4, of the Victorian forcing a decider, but the Croatian star then completed a 6-0 6-4 victory in 79 minutes. Birrell, who saved one match point but then watched her forehand shoot long on the second, left the English capital with some hard-earned experience and Stg 66,000 ($A138,500) as her reward for battling through qualifying. O'Connell found the ever tricky, veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours. Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra in one hour 40 minutes. Big hope Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon sensationally to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's calamitous start to the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday. As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the huge Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing. But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's defeat as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Sydneysider Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15. It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory. The 31-year-old battler summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments. In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but at what cost? 'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Earlier, under blue skies more redolent of her Gold Coast home than London, Birrell achieved the unenviable distinction of being the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships. The 27-year-old, making her debut at the grass court slam, never recovered from a nervy start in which she surrendered the first set to No.22 seed and last year's semi-finalist Donna Vekic without winning a game. A much-improved battling second set prompted hope, at 4-4, of the Victorian forcing a decider, but the Croatian star then completed a 6-0 6-4 victory in 79 minutes. Birrell, who saved one match point but then watched her forehand shoot long on the second, left the English capital with some hard-earned experience and Stg 66,000 ($A138,500) as her reward for battling through qualifying. O'Connell found the ever tricky, veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours. Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra in one hour 40 minutes.