World rankings leader Tyler Wright from Australia has advanced to the semi-finals of the women's surfing US Open in California.
Wright, 19, got the better of South African Bianca Buitendag in a slow high-tide heat, winning their quarter-final at Huntington Beach 15.10 points to 12.74.
"The tide's really come in and it's all about the carves," Wright said.
"I don't mind it.
"It's kind of tricky because there's not really a bottom to the wave sometimes and you've got to just do your best.
"I've always struggled here and been trying to figure it out.
"I just want to go out and surf my best in every heat and push my limits and have fun."
Frenchwoman Pauline Ado caused the biggest upset of the day, beating 2011 US Open champion Sally Fitzgibbons from Australia.
Ado won the closely-fought quarter-final 15.17 to 14.77.
Carissa Moore blitzed the highest single-wave score of the women's event with a near-perfect 9.50 in her victory over fellow Hawaiian Coco Ho.
American Courtney Conlogue won the other quarter-final, using her intimate knowledge of the Huntington Beach lineup to down Australian Laura Enever.
The women's US Open semi-finals and final are scheduled to be completed on Sunday (Monday morning AEST).
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