Tyler Wright has sent out a warning to her World Surf League title rivals, blasting her way into the third round of the season-opening event on the Gold Coast.
The defending world champion bounced back from her round one defeat to post a two-wave total of 17.50 out of 20 and eliminate local wildcard Alyssa Lock (12.33) in a sudden-death second round heat at Snapper Rocks on Thursday.
Wright's dominant win emulated the form she showed on her way to a maiden world championship last year and will put fellow big guns Stephanie Gilmore, Carissa Moore and Sally Fitzgibbons on notice.
The 22-year-old's victory also came shortly after she watched her older brother Owen mark his return from a traumatic brain injury to win his first WSL heat in over a year.
"I'm emotional about it because I love him, I care and that's just a part of it, a part of life," Wright said.
"A lot has happened within a year. To see his return ... more of the emotional journey that it took him to get here, it was lovely to see."
Wright said there was no intention to bounce back from her round one defeat with a dominant display, it was just another chance to prove her intense competitive streak.
"Round one wasn't really disappointing, I just made a mistake," she said.
"It's just nice to be surfing and getting back to the competing I wanto to do and I'm happy to do that win or lose."
Earlier on Thursday, six-time world champion Gilmore eased her way into the third round by claiming victory in the final heat of round one.
Other Australians to reach the third round heats included last year's WSL rookie of the year Keely Andrew, who eliminated Laura Enever, and West Australia's Bronte Macaulay who was too strong for American Sage Erickson in their second-round elimination heat.
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