3 minute read
Australians Jack Robinson and Connor O'Leary have secured their places in the G-Land WSL quarter-finals in Indonesia.
Australians Jack Robinson and Connor O'Leary are through to the quarter-finals of the G-Land WSL event in Indonesia, but 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and John John Florence crashed out.
Current world No.3 Robinson secured his spot in the final eight with a commanding win over American Jake Marshall, who could only muster a two-wave total of 2.23 compared to the Australian's 11.17.
In the final heat of the day, O'Leary pulled off a big upset by beating Brazilian Italo Ferreira.
Slater's two-wave total of 8.34 in the elimination second round wasn't enough to pip Brazilian Samuel Pupo, who advanced with a score of 8.90.
Brazilian Caio Ibelli and South African Jordy Smith were other big names to fall in the elimination round, along with Australians Callum Robson and Jackson Baker.
Florence became the next high-profile victim when he was beaten by Jadson Andre in the third round, with the Brazilian winning the tight contest 9.53 to 9.37.
Gabriel Medina, Kanoa Igarashi, and Filipe Toledo have also moved into the quarter-finals.
Robinson will next face Igarashi, while O'Leary faces South African Matthew McGillivray.
Andre was over the moon with his win over Florence.
"I'm so happy right now, that's the happiest I have been," he said.
"You never think you will surf against John John and win with two high fours. I knew I needed to do something big to beat him.
"It shows that you should never give up because anything can happen."
When the women's quarter-finals get underway, Australian Sally Fitzgibbons faces a tough ask against five-time world champion Carissa Moore.
Seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore is up against France's Johanne Defay, while West Australian Bronte Macaulay will take on world No.1 Brisa Hennessy.
Australian Tyler Wright was eliminated from the event on Thursday because she wasn't able to surf her elimination heat after entering the COVID-19 protocols.
