Australian surfer Matt Wilkinson has caused an upset at the South African event on the World Championship Tour, knocking 11-time world champion Kelly Slater out of the competition.
After notching up another win in the fourth round later on Monday at Jeffreys Bay, Wilkinson progressed directly to the quarter-finals, along with compatriots Joel Parkinson and Owen Wright.
Wilkinson took an early lead in the third round, with Slater needing 6.34 to surpass him at the halfway point.
In the waves before the buzzer, the American slipped off his board while Wilkinson's rhythm continued, and he finished with 18.36 to Slater's 15.37.
"No one really looks forward to a heat against Kelly, but my backhand and my boards are feeling really solid," Wilkinson said.
"It's so hard to beat anyone out here at J-Bay. I knew I needed to catch good waves against Kelly and I'm stoked to make it through."
Slater said Wilkinson seemed to be in total sync from the first wave.
"Every set he seemed to have the better waves," he said.
"I should have just been a bit more relaxed, maybe waited out a set. I really just blew it."
Meanwhile, two-time J-Bay Open winner Parkinson went on to the fourth round after beating out fellow Australian Adam Melling 14.83 to 8.50 in the first heat of the day.
He scored 16.44 in the following round, competing against countrymen Josh Kerr (8.47) and Taj Burrow (8.40), to move directly into the quarter-finals.
Wright also went straight through, after notching up 15.60 against Brazil's Gabriel Medina (13.76) and Fredrick Patacchia (13.70) of Hawaii.
Three Australians will compete in round five for a quarter-final spot, with Kerr to take on Brazil's Adriano de Souza, Burrow to face America's Kolohe Andino, and Mick Fanning up against Patacchia.
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