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AAP
AAP
Sport
Roger Vaughan

Women's surfing rounds finally start after J-Bay delay

Tyler Wright will lead the Australian challenge at the Corona Open at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE PHOTO) (AAP)

Australian surfing great Stephanie Gilmore will start competition at the Corona Open, needing a big result to help keep her world title defence alive.

The women's opening round and elimination round were to be run on Monday (South African time) in clean, two-to three-foot conditions at Jeffreys Bay after a four-day break.

The men's competition remains on hold after their opening round was held last week.

Gilmore, ranked sixth, needs a big result at J-Bay to break into the top five, who will contest the World Surf League finals.

Gilmore and fellow top Australians Tyler Wright and Molly Picklum are drawn in separate round-one heats, with the elimination round to follow immediately after.

World No.2 Wright reached the final at J-Bay last year, downing Gilmore in the last four before she fell to Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb in the Corona Open title showdown, while Picklum is ranked fourth.

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