Hopkins secures 2026 Championship Tour spot at Saquarema Pro

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS OF YOLANDA HOPKINS AND ANNETTE GONZALEZ EXTABARRI SURFING AT THE SAQUAREMA PRO OF THE WORLD SURF LEAGUE   SHOWS: SAQUAREMA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL  (OCTOBER 16, 2025) (WORLD SURF LEAGUE – See restrictions) 1. YOLANDA HOPKINS SURFING  2. HOPKINS SWIMMING  3. PEOPLE LIFTING HOPKINS ON SHOULDERS 4. HOPKINS HUGGING AND CELEBRATING  5. VARIOUS OF ANNETTE GONZALEZ EXTABARRI  6.  EXTABARRI CELEBRATING AFTER HER SURF  STORY: Yolanda Hopkins officially secured her spot in the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) as the women's field narrowed to semi-finalists, while the men's quarterfinals were postponed due to conditions, at the Banco do Brasil Saquarema Pro of the World Surf League (WSL) 2025 Challenger Series on Thursday (October 16).  Hopkins, a two-time Olympian, advanced past Australian Ellie Harrison to earn her place in the semi-finals and confirm her qualification for the 2026 CT. The 27-year-old, who narrowly missed qualification last year, has delivered her best career season with consistent performances including a runner-up finish in Ballito and consecutive semi-final appearances in Ericeira and Saquarema. Hopkins will face Australia's Sally Fitzgibbons in the semi-final after Fitzgibbons eliminated Arena Rodriguez. Fitzgibbons, a former CT veteran, retains the chance to re-qualify for the Championship Tour with a victory in Saquarema. Meanwhile, Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri provided the upset of the day by ending the 10-heat winning streak of newly qualified CT surfer Tya Zebrowski. In a rematch of their US Open of Surfing battle, Etxabarri capitalized on superior wave selection under priority, while Zebrowski struggled to find her rhythm.  The semi-finals now feature a showdown between Etxabarri and her sister, Maialen Gonzalez Etxabarri, who advanced to the next round in her own quarter-final heat.  (Production: Suramya Kaushik)

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