World Surf League: Opening Rounds Called ON at VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero

Competition Starts with Women’s Opening Round at 7:30 AM (GMT-3)

Men’s Opening Round and Women’s Elimination Round to Follow

More Available at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) arrives in Brazil ranked No. 1 on the 2025 Championship Tour rankings. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

PRAIA DE ITAÚNA, Saquarema, Brazil (Sunday, June 22, 2025) - The VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero, Stop No. 9 on the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Championship Tour (CT), has been called ON at Praia de Itaúna, in Saquarema, Brazil.

The women will open up with No. 4 ranked surfer Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW), who is coming in hot after securing a win at the Lexus Trestles Pro. Johnson hopes to improve her status in the Top 5 with another strong result at Praia de Itaúna. She will be matched up against Australian Isabella Nichols (AUS) and rookie Erin Brooks (CAN), who has already seen success in Saquarema with an event win on the Challenger Series during the 2024 Corona Saquarema Pro.

Heat 2 will be intense with current World No. 1 Gabriel Bryan (HAW) facing up against Lakey Peterson (USA) and event wildcard, young Peruvian Arena Rodriguez (PER) in front of a raucous crowd.

Pictured: Caitlin Simmers (USA) from 2024 at the VIVO Rio Pro. Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

Heat 3 will see world No. 2 and defending VIVO Rio Pro event winner Caitlin Simmers (USA) face Tyler Wright (AUS) and home crowd favorite Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), who comes in as the event wildcard. And to finalize the Opening Round for the women, the No. 3 ranked surfer Molly Picklum (AUS) will battle Caroline Marks (USA) and local surfer Luana Silva (BRA) in Heat 4.

Pictured: Defending event winner Italo Ferreira (BRA). Credit: WSL / Thiago Diz

The Men’s Opening Round will see defending event winner Italo Ferreira (BRA) face up against Conner O’Leary (JPN) and Seth Moniz (HAW) in Heat 1. Jordy Smith (RSA), the No. 1 ranked surfer in the world, will have a heated matchup against Cole Houshmand (USA) and event wildcard, Gabriel Klaussner (BRA) in Heat 4.

Heat 7 will provide international flair with the likes of Jack Robinson (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) and Rio Waida (INA) in the Opening Round. Later on, two-time WSL World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) will seek to outduel Griffin Colapinto (USA) and super-local João Chianca (BRA) in Heat 8 of the men’s Opening Round.

Following the Men’s Opening Round, the Women’s Elimination Round is scheduled to follow guaranteeing a full day of action at the VIVO Rio Pro.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

VIVO RIO PRO PRESENTED BY CORONA CERO WOMEN’S OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS:

HEAT 1: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)

HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Arena Rodriguez (PER)

HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Luana Silva (BRA)

VIVO RIO PRO PRESENTED BY CORONA CERO MEN’S OPENING ROUND MATCHUPS:

HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Connor O'Leary (JPN) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)

HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)

HEAT 3: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)

HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA) vs. Gabriel Klaussner (BRA)

HEAT 5: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Alan Cleland (MEX)

HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)

HEAT 7: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Rio Waida (INA)

HEAT 8: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)

Watch LIVE

The VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero holds a competition window from June 21 through June 29, 2025. The event will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. Check out more ways to watch from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

The VIVO Rio Pro presented by Corona Cero is proudly supported by VIVO, Corona Cero, Red Bull, Banco do Brasil, Secretaria de Esporte e Lazer do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Prefeitura de Saquarema, Natura Kaiak, Mãe Terra, Riachuelo, Probiótica, Dr. Peanut, YETI, EY, True Surf, Surfline with additional support from Galeão International Airport, and Mormaii E-Motors, and media partners Globo Group and InterTV.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.