Surf star Robinson into J-Bay quarters

World No.2 Jack Robinson will be aiming to continue his hot form when finals day gets underway at the World Surf League event at J-Bay.

Robinson secured his spot in the quarter-finals with a fighting win over 11-time world champion Kelly Slater on Thursday, while fellow Australians Ethan Ewing and Connor O’Leary are also into the last eight.

Ewing, who is currently ranked fifth in the world, would give his hopes of qualifying for the season-ending finals a huge boost if he can beat South African Jordy Smith in Friday’s quarter-final.

O’Leary is 10th in the rankings and there’s just one more event to come after South Africa, but a win at J-Bay would give him a real chance of snaring a top-five berth.

He will take on Yago Dora in the quarters.

Robinson has enjoyed a stunning season to date, winning the Margaret River Pro and G-Land, as well as coming third at Bells Beach.

The 24-year-old takes on Samuel Pupo in the J-Bay quarter-finals.

In the women’s draw, seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore will go up against fellow Australian Tyler Wright in a dream semi-final match-up.

World No.1 Carissa Moore is up against Brazilian Tatiana Weston-Webb.

A combination of COVID-19 and visa issues ruled world No.10 Wright out of the past three events, meaning she needs a big result at J-Bay and at the Tahiti Pro in order to secure a top-five berth.