Australian Sally Fitzgibbons' bid to consolidate her world surfing title lead has begun with a first-round win at the elite tour event in Portugal.
Fitzgibbons was victorious over Hawaiian Coco Ho and local Teresa Bonvalot in metre-high surf in Cascais on Wednesday to gain direct entry to the third round.
She laid down the best ride of the heat first up with a three-turn effort scored 6.5 out of 10, before holding onto the lead thanks to a 5.17.
Fitzgibbons, 26, took the championship lead off compatriot Tyler Wright at the previous event at Lower Trestles, California this month after progressing to the quarter-finals.
But she holds a slim lead over nearest rival Courtney Conlogue, with the American also progressing to the third round after beating rising Australian Keely Andrew and South Africa's Bianca Buitendag.
"It's great to have the leader jersey and be in this position at this point in the season," Fitzgibbons said.
"There's plenty more surfing to be done but it's so good to feel comfortable.
"You have to grab onto the lead at some point if you want to hold on to it for the rest of the year. I'm definitely going to try and hang on tight until the end of the year."
Fitzgibbons has never won the world championship, finishing runner-up three times.
Third-ranked Wright, the defending world champion, will need to contest the elimination second round after losing on Wednesday.
She finished behind Hawaii's Tatiana Weston-Webb and Australian Bronte Macaulay and will next face youngster Bonvalot.
Six-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore also failed to win in the first round and has been forced into sudden-death against Buitendag.
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