Stephanie Gilmore's bid for a seventh world surfing crown could be under threat after she withdrew from the Margaret River Pro with a knee injury.
Gilmore suffered the injury while free surfing on Saturday and pulled out of the World Surfing League event on Sunday before her scheduled round-four clash with American Courtney Conlogue.
The Australian will have an MRI within the next couple of days to determine the extent of the problem.
"Unfortunately I've got a little fracture in my fibula," said Gilmore.
" ... As soon as I heard the girls were off (on Saturday) I jetted down the coast to find some fun waves.
"It was pretty much my very first wave, I ejected out of the lip and tried to pin drop feet first and went straight-legged into the sand.
"I hobbled up the beach and thought it might get a little better, but it didn't and it got more painful."
Gilmore is hopeful of recovering in time for the next event on the WSL tour - the Rio Women's Pro beginning on May 11.
"Hopefully I have no ligament damage," she said.
"It's pretty painful and I don't want to push it and make it worse.
"Hopefully I can rest up and be ready for the next event.
"Fractures are not as bad as ligaments so hopefully it's just that."
Australians Sally Fitzgibbons and Tyler Wright advanced to the quarter-finals of the Margaret River event on Sunday.
Fitzgibbons dominated her third-round matchup on Sunday against American Lakey Peterson and Hawaiian Coco Ho.
The 24-year-old from NSW had two nine-point waves for a total of 18.80 points.
Wright (16.97) joined her in the last eight, having seen off the challenges of American Courtney Conlogue and South African Bianca Buitendag.
Ratings leader Carissa Moore from Hawaii also made it through to the last eight after amassing the highest round-three score of 19.23.
Earlier in the day, Australians Laura Enever, Nikki van Dijk, Dimity Stoyle and wildcard Claire Bevilacqua were all knocked out in the second round.
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