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   COMPLETE SHOTLIST TO FOLLOW  SHOWS: SAQUAREMA, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL  (OCTOBER 16, 2025) (WORLD SURF LEAGUE – See restrictions) STORY: Yolanda Hopkins officially secured her spot in the 2026 Championship Tour (CT) as the women's field narrowed to semi-finalists, while 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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