Australian Jack Robinson has shown he's ready to make a serious tilt at the world surfing championship next month with a dominant start at the Tahiti Pro.
The world No.2, who has already secured his place at the World Surf League finals in California, produced the ride of the day at Teahupo'o as the men's event got underway on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Competing in the third heat of the opening round, Robinson scored a near-perfect 9.43 with his third wave, going deep in a barrel before emerging from the wash to the cheers of the gallery.
That ride ensured Robinson won the heat against American Nat Young and local favourite Michel Bourez with a two-wave score of 16.26 to ease into the last 16.
The result not only secures Robinson a top-two seeding for next month's finals but puts him firmly in the hunt for Australia's first men's world surfing crown since Mick Fanning's triumph in 2013.
"Just working wave-by-wave," Robinson said.
"I was happy to be in position.
"A pretty tricky day out here, waves are kind of all over the place. I thought it was a good call they were holding off because of the wind.
"It's good. Hopefully the next couple of days it's fine and go rest."
Not since Julian Wilson's runner-up finish in the 2018 title race has an Australian man been better positioned to land the championship.
Morgan Cibilic qualified for last year's inaugural finals event but as the fifth-placed seed was always an outsider at claiming the title won by Gabriel Medina.
After Fanning and Joel Parkinson won four championships between 2006 and 2013, the rise of Brazilian surfers has left Australia's men on the beach when titles are being won.
Medina has won three world crowns since Fanning's 2013 win, including pipping Wilson in 2018, while compatriots Adriano de Souza and Italo Ferreira have also claimed championships in that period.
Only three heats could be completed before competition was called for the day due to a change in conditions meaning No.1-ranked Toledo is yet to take to the water in his opening heat against American great Kelly Slater and Australian Nathan Hedge.
Ethan Ewing's hopes of joining Robinson in the finals took a blow as he finished a distant third in his heat, won by Tahitian Kauli Vaast.
Ewing, who defeated Robinson in an all-Australian final at J-Bay last month, is third on the rankings but will hope to avoid a second-round elimination to ensure he makes the cut for the finals.
The other completed heat witnessed Brazil's Yago Dora upsetting world No.4 Ferreira to book his spot in the last 16.
Organisers will make a call on whether to resume the event on Thursday morning (Friday AEST).
