Robinson cements berth in surfing world title decider

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Robinson cements berth in surfing world title decider

Jack Robinson has locked in a spot in the title-deciding World Surf League Finals after winning a heart-stopping round-of-16 clash in the Fiji Pro.

Ranked world No.3 heading into the final stop of the regular season, the West *********** only needed the victory on Friday to secure his berth in the top-five, one-day, winner-take-all showdown at Lower Trestles in California next month.

But the Olympic silver medallist had to scrap his way to a win over Sydney surfer Connor O’Leary, who now competes under the Japan flag.

Robinson trailed O’Leary until the final few minutes at Cloudbreak when his rival blew a golden chance to extend his lead, falling on one of the waves of the heat.

The West *********** then took his own opportunity, scoring a 5.67 for a combined total of 12.34 to topple O’Leary’s total of 11.50.

Robinson will face in-form Brazilian Yago Dora in the quarter-finals.

Queenslander Ethan Ewing was ranked world No.5 heading into Fiji and will take on fellow Newcastle veteran Ryan Callinan later on Friday to keep alive his hopes of a place in the finals.

World No.1 John John Florence was surprisingly eliminated by Hawaiian Imaikalani deVault but already had his California contest date secured.

Second-ranked Griffin Colapinto is also locked in, but will face Gabriela Medina in the quarter-finals at Cloudbreak after both won their round-of-16 match-ups.

The women’s field completed their elimination round early Friday but Australia’s world No.4 Molly Picklum and 10th-ranked Tyler Wright had already moved safely through after heat victories.

********* teenage wildcard Erin Brooks upset Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, pushing her out of the top five, although facing a tough quarter-final contest against world No.1 Caitlin Simmers.

Picklum meets France’s Johanne Defay while Wright faces defending world champion and current No.2 ********* Caroline Marks.

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