Small surf delays start to Fiji Pro

Jack Robinson's quest to become Australia's next surfing world champion has been delayed due to poor conditions for the opening day of the Fiji Pro.

The Championship Tour hasn't had an event in Fiji since 2017, and surfers and fans will have to wait at least another 24 hours for the ninth leg of the World Surf League (WSL) to get underway at the iconic Cloudbreak venue.

It's also the last regular-season event of the season and will determine the five men and five women who will compete in the WSL Finals, the one-day, winner-take-all competition to win the 2024 World Championships.

"As expected, we arrived at Cloudbreak this morning to find small surf and little to no scoring opportunity," said WSL commissioner Jessi Miley-Dyer.

"We are seeing some promising signs for a new swell to arrive later in the day tomorrow and really fill in through Thursday and Friday. The window has just opened, so we are happy to wait for the best conditions, and for now, just enjoy what Fiji has to offer."

Only rankings leader John John Florence of Hawaii is assured of a spot in next month's title decider at Lower Trestles in California.

Paris Olympic silver medallist, and a seven-time winner on tour, Robinson is currently ranked No.3 while fellow Australian Olympian Ethan Ewing sits fifth.

In the women's field, American No.1 Caitlin Simmers has a finals berth locked in while Australia's Molly Picklum is fourth.