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Aust surfers face anxious wait at Pipeline

3 minute read

Australian surfers Julian Wilson, Jack Freestone and Soli Bailey must wait until Saturday (AEDT) to compete in the last 16 of the Pipe Masters.

Pro surfer JULIAN WILSON poses for a photograph after giving Slovakian tennis player Daniela Hantuchova a surf lesson at Coolum Beach in Sunshine Coast, Australia.
Pro surfer JULIAN WILSON poses for a photograph after giving Slovakian tennis player Daniela Hantuchova a surf lesson at Coolum Beach in Sunshine Coast, Australia. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Australian surfer Julian Wilson must wait another day to potentially confirm his provisional qualification for next year's Olympics.

Wilson is one of three Aussies to reach the round of 16 at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii, but the event has been delayed until Saturday (4am AEDT) after being called off on Friday morning (AEDT).

The Queenslander can emulate Owen Wright by confirming his provisional place at the Olympics with a win against Yago Dora in the last 16 in Oahu, Hawaii.

Wright was eliminated by Dora in the round of 32 on Thursday (AEDT), but has provisionally qualified for Tokyo as he is guaranteed a top-10 finish in the men's Champion Tour rankings.

Wilson is currently 11th in the rankings and progression to the quarter-finals would make it impossible for Jack Freestone to overtake him in the table.

Freestone faces Kiwi Ricardo Christie in the last 16, having beaten compatriot Ryan Callinan in the last round.

He needs to win the event at Pipeline and hope for Wilson to lose to Dora if he is to qualify for the Olympics.

Soli Bailey, the third Aussie in contention in Hawaii, will face local John John Florence in the last 16. Bailey needs to win to keep his hopes of retaining his Championship Tour status alive.

Italo Ferreira, Gabriel Medina and Kolohe Andino remain in contention for the world title at Pipeline.

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