World Surf League: Saquarema Comes to Life For Opening Day of the VIVO Rio Pro Presented By Corona Cero
- World Surf League
- 2 minutes ago
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World No. 1 Italo Ferreira, El Salvador Success Story of Leonardo Fioravanti Flourish
Brazil’s Titans Filipe Toledo and Gabriel Medina Fall
CT Icon Sally Fitzgibbons Takes Over, Isabella Nichols Buzzer-Beater, and Tya Zebrowski Overcomes the GOAT
DAY TWO CALLED ON Action now Live on WorldSurfLeague.com
SAQUAREMA, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Friday, June 19, 2026) – The forecasted south swell arrived in Saquarema for the opening day of the VIVO Rio Pro Presented By Corona Cero, Stop No. 6 of the 2026 World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). The day began with waves breaking at different peaks, but they gradually improved throughout the morning. The arrival of the northeast offshore wind, considered the most favorable in the area, helped to align the waves and leave the competition venue in ideal conditions for the start of the competition.
Men's Rounds One and Two, and Women's Round One, Heats 1 - 6, were completed in their entirety in front of Saquarema's fandom.
Event organizers will reconvene today, Saturday, June 20, at 6:45 a.m. BRT for a possible 7:05 a.m. start. The women's Round One, Heats 7 and 8, Round Two, and men's Round Three are on schedule, with possible overlapping heats on schedule.
World No. 1 Italo Ferreira, El Salvador Success Story of Leonardo Fioravanti Flourish
After securing his first victory of the season on the CT in El Salvador, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) maintained his momentum and overcame event Wildcard Weslley Dantas (BRA). With this result, the Italian moved up one place in the world rankings to No. 2, gaining ground in the race for the 2026 World Title and putting pressure on the Brazilian leader at the top of the list, Italo Ferreira (BRA).
"Weslley [Dantas] is the classic wildcard that you never know what he's going to do. He's doing crazy things, crazy aerials. I was trying to focus on what I could do, put a little pressure on him and have a good heat,” said Fioravanti. “If he did crazy things, then good for him, but I just wanted to make sure I did my part. I've received a lot of support, especially since last week. All the Italians, the fans, my family, my friends, have been incredible, and that means a lot. Let's go forward. Forza Italy, we are here!"
Current World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) continued his consistency by defeating Morocco's Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) in Round Two, Heat 9. Ferreira highlighted the challenge of adjusting the equipment for Itaúna.
“We arrived from El Salvador three days ago, and in a day and a half we were already preparing for the competition,” said Ferreira. “Saquarema is quite challenging because of the waves, so you always have to be very fast. I tried my best to catch a lot of waves in the last few days, and I tested 12 boards in a day and a half to find a good one that I could really perform with, so that when I needed to, I would know which board to use. Today it started with a lot of waves, many more waves, it was bigger, and then it went down, adjusted, probably tomorrow it will go down a little more. So, I had to adjust all the sizes to know exactly what I could use today. I'm stoked to have won this heat, I was a little nervous at the beginning, but that's it. Play the game, take it easy and get some results here.”
Defending World Champion Yago Dora (BRA) also shone in the decisive moments as he claimed victory over Eli Hanneman (HAW). In Round Two, needing a 6.91 (out of a possible 10) in the final moments, Dora responded with a strong frontside attack that earned him a 7.83 and turned the heat, securing his place in Round Three and maintaining his place at No. 4 in the rankings.
Samuel Pupo (BRA) advanced to Round Three by overtaking Mexico's Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX), before men's competition ended in an all-Brazilian heat featuring Miguel Pupo (BRA) against Mateus Herdy (BRA). Pupo advanced over Herdy in a tight matchup that was decided only in the final waves of the last few minutes.
Saquarema's own João Chianca (BRA) was also able to secure his place in Round Three. After riding a solid barrel and closing the wave with precision, Chianca received an 8.17 and added a 6.67 as his second-best score. The combination put him in a strong position and leaving Griffin Colapinto (USA) in an extreme situation. Forced to chase a 9.67 in the final moments, time ran out before the American could turn the tide.
Brazil’s Titans Filipe Toledo and Gabriel Medina Fall
Round Two held some big surprises for the Brazilian fans who packed the sands of Itaúna. The first upset came in the sixth heat, when WSL Replacement Surfer Matthew McGillivray (RSA) eliminated the national idol, three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) in his very first heat of the event.
"It's crazy, obviously it's Gabriel Medina,” said McGillivray. “When I saw that I was going to face him, I thought I would need a very specific plan, trying to rely on aerials and exploit my main strength. Even so, I didn't imagine that it would work," celebrated the South African after the victory.
Two-time World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA), also said goodbye to the competition after being defeated by Australian Callum Robson (AUS). Robson advanced with a dominant performance, scoring an excellent 8.00 on his best wave, with a two-wave total of 14.93 (out of a possible 20) securing the spot over the Brazilian in one of the most anticipated heats of the day.
Alejo Muniz’s Retirement Year Bids Farewell to Brazil Fandom
With the announcement of his retirement at the start of the season, Alejo Muniz (BRA) arrived in Saquarema prepared to surf for the last time in front of the Brazilian crowd on the Tour. Accompanied by his parents, wife, and son, he was eliminated by Ethan Ewing (AUS). Muniz experienced one of the most memorable moments of the event when he walked towards the sea alongside his entire family.
"My family is here, my father and mother, who started everything with me and believed in my dream since I was 10 years old,” said Muniz. “Being with them, my wife and my son, makes me very grateful. I really wanted to experience this here in Brazil and leave with pride for everyone. I was up against one of the best in the world and I'm happy to end my journey in the country like this.”
"I have always been very grateful for what God has given me," Muniz continued. "I was a hard worker, a fighter, always focused on discipline. I was lucky to be part of the Brazilian Storm generation. If I managed to inspire anyone in these almost 20 years of my career, including almost 10 in the CT, it was already worth it. It was an honor to close my last event in Brazil and I wish good luck to those who continue in the competition."
Sally Fitzgibbons Dominates the First Round of the Women’s Competition
Shortly after the completion of the 20 men’s heats, it was the women’s turn to take the stage in Itaúna. There were no changes at the top of the rankings as the top seeds did not have the opportunity to compete on Friday. Even so, Australia’s Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) scored 14.50 points with a powerful backside maneuver in her first-round heat against France’s Vahine Fierro (FRA) and secured a spot in the quarterfinals with the highest total score of the day among the women.
Like Fitzgibbons, Erin Brooks (CAN), Tya Zebrowski (FRA), and Brisa Hennessy (CRC) temporarily moved up one spot in the CT rankings by winning their heats on the first day of competition at the VIVO Rio Pro presented by Corona Cero.
Brazilian surfers Luana Silva (BRA) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), a wildcard for the event, await their debuts when women’s action resumes.
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Round One Results
HEAT 1: Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 7.00 DEF. Lucas Chianca (BRA) 6.43
HEAT 2: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 11.67 DEF. Luke Thompson (RSA) 5.13
HEAT 3: Weslley Dantas (BRA) 9.67 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.07
HEAT 4: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 9.17 DEF. Oscar Berry (AUS) 6.50
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Men’s Round Two Results
HEAT 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) 14.33 DEF. Rio Waida (INA) 12.53
HEAT 2: Samuel Pupo (BRA) 11.07 DEF. Alan Cleland (MEX) 8.50
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.27 DEF. Weslley Dantas (BRA) 11.60
HEAT 4: Liam O’Brien (AUS) 13.93 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 10.83
HEAT 5: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 9.44 DEF. Connor O'Leary (JPN) 9.30
HEAT 6: Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 13.53 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.13
HEAT 7: Joao Chianca (BRA) 14.84 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 7.17
HEAT 8: George Pittar (AUS) 15.00 DEF. Joel Vaughan (AUS) 6.53
HEAT 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.33 DEF. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 10.97
HEAT 10: Kauli Vaast (FRA) 13.73 DEF. Crosby Colapinto (USA) 11.50
HEAT 11: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 12.66 DEF. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.30
HEAT 12: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 12.23 DEF. Cole Houshmand (USA) 11.77
HEAT 13: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.83 DEF. Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.90
HEAT 14: Marco Mignot (FRA) 12.74 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 10.43
HEAT 15: Callum Robson (AUS) 14.93 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.00
HEAT 16: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.97 DEF. Mateus Herdy (BRA) 10.94
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Round One (Heats 1-6) Results
HEAT 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.50 DEF. Vahine Fierro (FRA) 7.00
HEAT 2: Erin Brooks (CAN) 11.26 DEF. Anat Lelior (ISR) 9.50
HEAT 3: Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) 10.83 DEF. Yolanda Hopkins (POR) 9.10
HEAT 4: Isabella Nichols (AUS) 12.50 DEF. Francisca Veselko (POR) 11.70
HEAT 5: Tya Zebrowski (FRA) 8.67 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 7.33
HEAT 6: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 12.00 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 7.16
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Round One (Heats 7-8) Matchups Remaining
HEAT 7: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Bella Kenworthy (USA)
HEAT 8: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero Women’s Round Two Matchups
HEAT 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Samuel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 2: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)
HEAT 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Matthew McGillivray (RSA)
HEAT 4: Joao Chianca (BRA) vs. George Pittar (AUS)
HEAT 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA) Kauli Vaast (FRA)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN)
HEAT 7: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA)
HEAT 8: Callum Robson (AUS) def. Michael Pupo (BRA)
VIVO Rio Pro Presented by Corona Cero
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