Hometown hero Bronte Macaulay (AUS) had a scoreless heat to open her campaign in Margaret River during the seeding round, but will fight to redeem herself in Elimination Round 2 when competition resumes.
Macaulay will compete against fellow Australians Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) and Macy Callaghan (AUS) in Heat 2.
Local wildcard Mia McCarthy (AUS) will be against veteran Silvana Lima (BRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA), after losing in her Seeding Round matchup to Coco Ho and Stephanie Gilmore.
The 20-year-old will have another shot on the elite stage to show her best surfing at her home break.
Along with Jacob Willcox (AUS), wildcard Jack Robinson (AUS) was also sent to the Elimination Round after failing to attend his heat in time. He will be against 2018 Rookie of the Year Wade Carmichael (AUS) and Jack Freestone (AUS) in Elimination Heat 2.
Kelly Slater (USA) was the only competing World Champion who will surf in the dreaded Elimination Round 2 after losing his Seeding Round heat.
The 11-time WSL Champion fell to two-time WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) and Jadson Andre (BRA) in the Heat 1 of the men's opening round.
Florence, 2017 event winner and current World No. 1, posted two 6-point rides (out of a possible 10), leaving Slater short of advancing with twin 5.17 scores.
Slater will need to earn first or second in his next heat to avoid an early elimination from the Margaret River Pro.
Seven-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) also progressed through her opening matchup, but it was in second place behind standout Coco Ho (HAW), who put on the most dominating performance of the morning with a two-wave total of 15.23 (out of a possible 20).
Ho found incredible flow in the raw West Australian conditions, even posting an 8.00-point ride (out of a possible 10), the highest of the event so far to overcome one of her biggest inspirations in Gilmore along with local wildcard Mia McCarthy (AUS).
Carissa Moore (HAW) scratched her way back from nearly being sent to the Elimination Round by delivering a clutch 14.43 (out of a possible 20) heat total to win her Seeding Round heat.
Injury replacement Keely Andrew (AUS) and World No. 8 Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) had Moore on the ropes until the three-time WSL Champion unleashed a dominant showcase in the dying minutes.
Andrew secured the second-place position, sending Van Dijk to Elimination Round 2.
Reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) has yet to advance further than fifth place at the Margaret River Pro.
His best result came in the same year that he won his maiden World Title in 2014. In 2019, having been eliminated from the Corona Bali Protected in 17th, Medina hopes to post his best result yet at Margaret River and move up the rankings out of the 10th spot.
On Wednesday he got his campaign off to a great start by taking down local Jacob Willcox (AUS) and rookie Deivid Silva (BRA) with the second highest single wave score of the opening day, an 8.33 to progress into the Round of 32.
Event organisers have called competition off for Thursday due to unfavorable winds.
The next call will be Friday, May 31, at 7:30 a.m.
- With WSL
