Mick Fanning survived a second-round scare at the Fiji Pro, but the three-time world surfing champion still has no idea what lies ahead after the event.
On the same day Taj Burrow continued his farewell run at Cloudbreak, Fanning - in the middle of a personal year after a dramatic 2015 campaign - beat fellow Australian Kai Otton in their elimination-round battle on his return to the competition after skipping the past two events.
And while he confirmed before the season began he would most likely face his fears at the next tournament at Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa - where he survived a shark attack last season - he admits he is still unsure of his future.
"As time goes on I'll find out," he said.
"I've still got some more trips to do and some more places to find, but hopefully I will come up with a decision soon."
Fanning was ranked 23rd heading into the Fiji event, and he must finish in the top 22 at the end of the season to ensure automatic qualification for next year's series.
He has already confirmed he would only compete intermittently in 2015, after a horrific year which also saw him lose his brother to heart issues while he was surfing for the title in Hawaii last December.
He skipped the two most recent events in Western Australia and Rio, and finished 13th on the Gold Coast before reaching the semi-finals at Bells Beach in April.
Fanning looked like he was heading for an early exit at Cloudbreak, before a ride of 7.93 in the final 10 minutes lifted him to a 1.70-point victory over Otton in one-to-two metre swells.
"It's definitely a different feeling when you come in and you're chasing for a world title, that's stressful," Fanning said.
"But at the moment I'm just feeling pretty light and pretty carefree."
He will now face another Australian in Adam Melling in the third round.
Meanwhile Burrow, who has announced the event will be his last after 18 years on the tour, accounted for Brazilian Caio Ibelli with wave scores of 7.27 and 8.03 to advance to a third-round clash with Hawaiian John John Florence.
Australia's world ratings leader Matt Wilkinson also advanced, along with Josh Kerr and Adrian Buchan, who had wins in do-or-die battles on Monday.
The news wasn't so good for fellow-Australians Julian Wilson, Ryan Callinan, Jack Freestone, Davey Cathels and Stuart Kennedy, who were all dumped out in the second round.
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