Melanie Bartels advances to the quaterfinals at the Billabong Girls Pro Rio WCT

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Friday, September 12, 2008) – A lay day has been called for the Billabong Girls Pro Rio event organizers opting not to run in the one-to-two foot (0.5 metre) waves on offer at Barra da Tijuca today in favor of better conditions in the coming days.

Billabong Girls Pro Rio Quarterfinal Match-Ups:
Quarterfinal 1: Samantha Cornish (AUS) vs. Melanie Bartels (HAW)
Quarterfinal 2: Jacqueline Silva (BRA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
Quarterfinal 3: Sofia Mulanovich (PER) vs. Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS)
Quarterfinal 4: Silvana Lima (BRA) vs. Layne Beachley (AUS)

Event No. 4 of 8 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour, the Billabong Gils Pro Rio has already seen top seeds Amee Donohoe (AUS), 27, and Rebecca Woods (AUS), 23, eliminated from competition yesterday in Round 3 along with a number of other hot prospects, but the 2008 ASP Women’s World Title contenders all remain poised for another result in Brazil.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 20, reigning ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, eliminated lethal wildcard Maria Tita Tavares (BRA), 32, in yesterday’s Round 3 and will face teammate Jacqueline Silva (BRA), 29, in Quarterfinal 2 when competition resumes.

Sofia Mulanovich (PER), 25, former ASP Women’s World Champion and current No 2 on the ASP Women’s World Tour, took down ’08 Dream Tour rookie Karina Petroni (USA), 20, in Round 3 yesterday and will battle Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), 22, in Quarterfinal 3.

Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, former seven-time ASP Women’s World Champion and current No. 3 on the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ratings, was in sensational form yesterday, nailing a 9.00 out of a possible 10 single-wave score to oust fellow veteran Melanie Redman-Carr, 33, and will face dangerous local Silvana Lima (BRA), 23, in Quarterfinal 4.

When Billabong Girls Pro Rio competition resumes, defending event champion Samantha Cornish (AUS), 27, will be up against Melanie Bartels (HAW), 26, in Quarterfinal 1.