In the first heat of the elimination round, Camila Cardoso (7.13 points out of 20 possible) beat the German Rachel Presti (6.70), ensuring the passage to the next stage.

“I started a bit late in the heat, but I found a wave that allowed a good manoeuvre and then I waited for a bigger wave, which I only found in the last 30 seconds, but it was possible to pass”, said the young surfer from Carcavelos out.

Then, in the second wave, with the sea conditions improving, Carolina Mendes (12.50), two-time national champion and the first Portuguese to win the European championship, beat the Spanish Ariane Ochoa (11.77).

“It was good, I started with two good scores and then went to manage the heat. It was not easy to finish the waves because, with the tide low, the finishing touches are on the rocks. But I went ahead and, in the quarters, I want to catch good waves and show my surfing”, highlighted the athlete from Cascais.

In the duel between the Portuguese in the third heat, it was Yolanda Hopkins (11.77), who usually does well in the waves of Ribeira d’Ilhas, who beat Francisca Veselko (11.37) and ensured continuity in the World Surf League (WSL) race.

“I am very happy to have passed this heat, I knew it would be very difficult. I’m going in with everything for the next heat”, said the Algarve surfer.

Finally, in the fourth round, Mafalda Lopes (12.07), from Costa de Caparica, missed out on the win, losing to the Spanish Nádia Erostarbe (13.10).

In the quarters, Camila Cardoso faces the Israeli Anat Lelior, Carolina Mendes faces the French and world ‘top’ Johanne Defay, Yolanda Hopkins faces the French Pauline Ado (who has already joined the world elite), and Teresa Bonvalot - the only Portuguese who on 29 September ensured direct passage to the next phase - will surf against the Spanish Nádia Erostarbe.

The MEO Portugal Cup Surfing, which follows a similar event held last week in France, does not count towards any competition and its main goal is to provide competition moments for athletes after the WSL 2020 circuits were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.