GrindTV News, Saturday June 13, - Conditions permitting, Australians Owen Wright and Daniel Ross will face off in the quarterfinals of the Sri Lankan Airlines Pro today in the Maldives. Like all 6-Star Prime events, the massive points on tap in the Maldives will have a dramatic effect on the overall rankings. Wright and Ross entered this event ranked 3rd and 2nd respectively, and with current tour leader Adam Melling long gone, both are looking to climb. The only other surfer in the entire top 20 of the WQS rankings to make it into the quarterfinals is Brazilian Jadson Andre. The dynamic goofyfooter entered ranked in the number 5 slot.


While Wright and Ross will be facing each other in the next round, Andre will be taking on France's latest star, Romain Cloitre, who is undoubtedly the biggest surprise. Cloitre entered this event ranked 58th, but he's been impressing everyone all week. Meanwhile, the Americans still have some hope resting in Pat Gudauskas and Austin Ware. Gudauskas got on the judges good side just two days ago, pulling the first-ever rodeo flip in competition during his Round of 48 heat. Both he and Ware will be climbing out of the ratings cellar after ho-hum starts to the season, but neither surfer, regardless of how well they do here, is likely to rest afterward. They both know there's a lot of season left on the schedule.


After defeating Cory Lopez to get into the Quarterfinals, Gudauskas now faces Brazilian Wiggolly Dantas. Should he win he'll face the winner of Jadson Andre and Romain Cloitre for a shot at the Finals. Ware's road, meanwhile, looks a little tougher, at least on paper. If he can get past Australia's Leigh Sedley in the quarters, he'll face the winner of the Wright vs. Ross clash for a shot at the final.