Reigning champion Mick Fanning has fought back with just seconds from elimination to beat local wildcard Maxime Huscenot in the third round of a World Surf League event at Hossegor, France.
Huscenot had Fanning on the ropes before the three-time champion started his final wave, on which he unleashed his signature powerful carves for a buzzer-beater 9.03 and an overall total of 17.83 on Saturday.
"It was really stressful, Maxime got off to a quick start and kept building," Fanning said.
"I just felt like I couldn't figure out the wave, and there was very little time left, so I had to give it all on that last wave.
"Lucky enough, it just held up really nice and was the best wave I had the whole heat. That's what you train for - you can't fold under pressure, you've got to be able to surf how you want to surf."
Meanwhile, Bede Durbidge and fellow Australian Adrian Buchan went blow for blow at Culs Nus, Durbidge eventually taking the heat with two rides above nine points.
"Ace started off with a bang and I was down at the total opposite end of the beach, so it made me change strategy right away," Durbidge said.
Matt Wilkinson took out Josh Kerr in another all-Australian affair, while Julian Wilson beat American Brett Simpson, Owen Wright came out ahead of American Dane Reynolds, and Kai Otton was beaten by Hawaiian surfer John John Florence.
In the women's event earlier, reigning six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore narrowly beat Hawaii's Malia Manuel, and fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons progressed with a win over France's Pauline Ado.
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