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Australia's men's contingent at the latest World Surf League round in France have experienced mixed results in the knockout stages.

Australia's Adrian Buchan has dumped two-time world surf league champion Gabriel Medina but has not capitalised on his giant-killing exploits at the Quicksilver Pro in France.

Buchan, who started this leg a lowly 18th on the competition standings, stunned the defending champion by edging the Brazilian by 0.5 points on Friday off the coast of Hossegor.

A two-wave score of 10 points was sufficient to upset Medina (9.50), though second-ranked compatriot Filipe Toledo could not take advantage after being eliminated in the previous round.

Unfortunately for Buchan, he exited in the quarter-finals by the narrowest of margins to Italian Leonardo Fioravanti, who prevailed 13.30 to 13.0.

Buchan congratulated Fioravanti, who was floating alongside, when it became apparent he would not find a decisive wave shortly before the hooter ended their contest.

Jack Freestone carried Australia's hopes into the semi-finals after eliminating local hope Marc Lacomare in the last eight.

Freestone's final wave of 7.67 propelled him to a spine-tingling win by a mere 0.16 points.

In the round of 16, Freestone (12.33) beat compatriot Julian Wilson (10.33), the latter's second score of 8.33 unable to compensate for an initial wave worth just 2.0.

Ryan Callinan also advanced to the quarter-finals by eliminating Ezekiel Lau (Hawaii) in a high-scoring round-of-16 clash, 14.17 to 12.83 but met the same quarter-final fate as Buchan.

Frenchman Jeremy Flores struck late, with his fourth and fifth waves mustering 14.40 points, while Callinan trailed on 13.17.

Freestone will meet Flores for a place in the final while Brazil's Italo Ferreira (12.94) booked his place in the final four by beating American Kolohe Andino (8.60) and next faces Fioravanti.

Wade Carmichael was the other Australian casualty in the round of 16 when he was pipped by Lacomare in a nailbiter, 8.87 to 8.63.