Jack Robinson's lean 2026 World Surf League has continued with the Australian outsurfed by three-time world champion Gabriel Medina at the El Salvador Pro.
The Olympic silver medallist made his fourth successive round-three exit to sit 14th in the rankings after stop five on the Championship Tour.
Robinson hasn't finished the season lower than fifth in the past four years.
Brazilian surfers are dominating the standings, filling five of the top six spots led by Italo Ferreira, followed by Medina who won his last world title in 2021.
Australia has two surfers inside the men's top 10, with George Pittar at eight and Ethan Ewing sitting ninth.
Callum Robson is the only Australian man remaining in the event at Punta Roca, beating compatriot Liam O'Brien when the first half of the third round was completed on Tuesday.
With O'Brien pinged with a controversial priority interference after confusion over the signals and losing his back-up wave, Robson won the heat 12.50 to 5.13 after initially believing he was at fault.
Competing in his first quarter-final of the year, Robson, from Evans Head in far north NSW, will take on Japan's Kanoa Igarashi.
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Robinson got off to a strong start in the heavy swell, posting a opening score of 6.0 on eight-to-10-foot wave faces.
But the West Australian was unable to set up another meaningful score despite heats being extended to 45 minutes.
He finished with a tally of 7.87 while Medina's two best scores were both 6.67 for a total of 13.34.
"I was just trying to pick the right waves - Jack surfs this wave really good, and I matched up with him in the quarterfinals here before, so I'm just really happy to make it," said Medina.
"This year, I'm taking it step by step and just enjoying my time out there. Hopefully, I can get a good result."
Ferreira edged 2024 CT rookie of the year, American Crosby Colapinto 12.50 to 11.00 with the 2019 world champion next taking on France's Kauli Vaast.
Other round-three winners on Wednesday included Italian Leonardo Fioravanti, who will take on French young gun Marco Mignot and Mexico's Alan Cleland, who faces Medina.
Event organisers have already called Thursday, June 11, off but are hoping to get the women's quarter-finals, featuring Australians Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright, started early Friday.
World champion Picklum is up against Caroline Marks while Wright lines up against another American in Caitlin Simmers.
