Wright blows surfing world title race open

Tyler Wright has blown the women's surfing world title race wide open with victory in France, ensuring an all-Australian three-way battle for the championship.

Five-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons had been locked in what looked to be a two-horse world title race, but their failure to advance past the quarter-finals at the Roxy Pro France in Hossegor opened the door for Wright.

The 20-year-old surged into contention with a crushing victory on Sunday, which lifted her to second on the rankings behind Fitzgibbon and dropped Gilmore to third with just two events remaining.

"I feel like I've been surfing well all year but have had some tough luck in my heats," Wright said.

"That said, I've managed to fly a little bit under the radar and keep myself in the race.

"It's so tight up there at the top of the ratings so it should be a great finish to the year."

The battle will now go down to the wire, with the world champion not to be determined until the finale in Hawaii in November, which follows next month's event in Portugal.

Fitzgibbon, who along with Wright is ...more