Australian Tyler Wright has pushed aside feelings of homesickness to set up a semi-final clash with countrywoman Sally Fitzgibbons at the WSL surf event at Rottnest Island.
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Wright produced a tight win over fellow Aussie Nikki Van Dijk (12.50 to 11.43) in their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
It set up a high-stakes semi-final showdown against Fitzgibbons, who produced a deep tube ride on the way to her dominant quarter-final win over Malia Manuel (15.10 to 9.47).
The Rottnest Search in WA is the fourth stop on the Australian swing, and NSW-born Wright cannot wait to return home.
"I'm holding on at this point. I'm a bit homesick. I miss my family, I miss my girlfriend," Wright told the WSL broadcast.
"This is physically, psychologically, and mentally draining.
"I woke up today, and I feel a bit run down. It's week nine that we're on, four events.
"It's one of those ones that you can feel the end is close, but we've still got work to do.
"(I'm) still able to emotionally handle that and get the job done, which for me is evolving from where I would have been at a younger stage of my career."
Fitzgibbons scored 8.33 for her special backhand tube ride in the dying minutes of her heat against Manuel.
Four-time world champion Carissa Moore eliminated Australian Isabella Nichols in the last eight (16.53 to 14.43).
Wright sits fifth in the world ranking, with Fitzgibbons currently one spot behind her.
Their strong showing at Rottnest will boost both of their hopes of finishing the regular season in the top five and qualifying for the winner-takes-all final event of the year.
Australian Associated Press
