Stephanie Gilmore's chances of closing the gap on current ratings leader Sofia Mulanovich have been boosted after the Peruvian was eliminated from the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle in France on Thursday.
The defending champion at this event, Mulanovich, 25, was stunned by French wildcard Lee Ann Curren.
"I am just overwhelmed right now," Curren said. "Sofia (Mulanovich) is one of my favorite surfers and to beat her at home in front of everyone is really special. It's something I will always remember."
Curren will take on Australian Jessi Miley-Dyer, 22, in one quarter-final on Friday.
Miley-Dyer, currently at No.9 on the ASP Women's World Tour, has fought back strongly after missing the opening event of the season with a fifth placing at Bells.
Gilmore, the reigning world champion, had no problems in defeating American Karina Petroni 19.50 points to 9.15 - including a perfect 10 for a forehand hack-to-fin-slide followed by a critical closeout re-entry.
"I was able to nail a pretty solid turn at the start and the wave stood up for me long enough to cram another turn there on the end section," the 20-year-old said. "The conditions out there this afternoon are fast right-handers which really suit my surfing so that's good for me."
Gilmore said Mulanovich's elimination gave her the impetus to pull out a big ride.
"I was out in the water when I watched Lee Ann (Curren) take out Sofia (Mulanovich) and that fired me up a bit," Gilmore said. "It's good as it allows me to gain a little ground in the ratings and hopefully I can keep going here in France."
Veteran Layne Beachley will meet compatriot Amee Donohoe in one quarter-final after both scored comfortable victories in Round 3.
Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Amee Donohoe (Australia) 12.50 def. Julia De La Rosa Toro (Peru) 4.60
Heat 2: Layne Beachley (Australia) 9.75 def. Nicola Atherton (Australia) 5.35
Heat 3: Jessi Miley-Dyer (Australia) 13.50 def. Rosanne Hodge (South Africa) 12.90
Heat 4: Lee Ann Curren (France) 14.25 def. Sofia Mulanovich (Peru) 13.15
Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) 19.50 def. Karina Petroni (USA) 9.15
Heat 6: Jacqueline Silva (Brazil) 12.50 def. Rebecca Woods (Australia) 9.25
Heat 7: Silvana Lima (Brazil) 17.50 def. Melanie Bartels (Hawaii) 7.50
Heat 8: Samantha Cornish (Australia) 12.25 def. Melanie Redman-Carr (Australia) 6.00
Quarter-final Match-Ups:
Quarter-final 1: Amee Donohoe (Australia) vs. Layne Beachley (Australia)
Quarter-final 2: Jessi Miley-Dyer (Australia) vs. Lee Ann Curren (France)
Quarter-final 3: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) vs. Jacqueline Silva (Brazil)
Quarter-final 4: Silvana Lima (Brazil) vs. Samantha Cornish (Australia)