Anderson, who turns 28 on Tuesday, was knocked out by Japan's Hinako Kurokawa in Saturday's quarter-final at Riyue Bay having earlier beaten France's Pauline Ado in the round of 16.

She posted 9.03 to Kurokawa's 10.50 having recorded a two-wave combination score of 13.17 against Ado (11.77).

"I know Philippa [Anderson] is a really good surfer and I just wanted to catch the first wave of the heat," Kurokawa told WSL media.

"Then I actually missed that first wave (laughs) so then I wanted to just get a quick start and find a backup right away. That strategy won't really change knowing the conditions will be about the same. My goal this year is to try and make it into the Top 10 and maybe even the Top 5 for a chance to qualify."

Anderson was second in her three-person heat on Friday after opening her 2020 campaign with victory in round two.

The 2019 WSL championship tour rookie of the year Bris Hennessy eventually took out the 5000-point event by defeating Vahine Fierro in Sunday's decider.

The Australian leg of the WSL women's QS includes the 10,000-point Sydney Surf Pro and Newcastle's Surfest, held back-to-back in March before the CT kick starts on the Gold Coast.

IN OTHER NEWS