Layne Beachley has never taken defeat well.

With six world titles to her belt, it isn't something she has had to experience too often.

But Thursday's defeat to current world champion Sofia Mulanovich in the final of the Roxy Pro at Fiji is an extremely bitter pill to swallow.

Leading for the entire heat Beachley saw her 27th World Championship Tour victory stolen from her grasp as Mulanovich paddled onto a wave in the last 10 seconds of the final.

Needing less than a five-point ride at the halfway mark of the 35-minute final, the Peruvian had waited patiently while holding priority to catch the wave she needed.

Under immense pressure Mulanovich performed a series of quick manoeuvres to grab a seven-point-plus score for an emphatic victory.

A shattered Beachley could barely find the words to describe what had just happened.

"I'm not taking it very well because I put so much heart into it," said Beachley.

"I'm very disappointed in myself because once again I made a tactical wave selection error which cost me the whole contest."

Making the loss worse for Beachley, Thursday's contest was the richest on the tour with the 21-year-old Peruvian walking away with $US10,600 ($A13,680), $5000 more than runner-up Beachley.

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