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Australian rookie Jack Robinson will compete in his first World Surf League event semi-final after a day of upsets in the Corona Open in Mexico.

Australian surfing prospect Jack Robinson has broken through to his first semi-final on the World Surf League after a day of upsets in Mexico.

The 23-year-old West Australian will face Brazilian wildcard Mateus Herdy for a spot in the decider of the Corona Open at Barra de la Cruz.

Regardless of how the semi-final plays out, it will be the best result for the tour rookie at a WSL event.

Robinson's big Thursday began in the round of 16 against Indonesia's Rio Waida.

Trailing Waida in the late stages of the heat, Robinson scored a 9.37 wave to snatch the win and move into the last eight.

Robinson then posted a two-wave score of 14.06 in the quarter-finals to advance past Portugal's Frederico Morais (12.60) and into the last four.

Herdy came from behind against compatriot and defending world champion Italo Ferreira in a shock result, but Robinson is far from content at just breaking through into the semis.

"Still feel like the job isn't done, like there's still more to go," Robinson said.

"But I'm super happy just to get through that one."

The other semi-final features some unheralded names after Deivid Silva upset world No.1 Gabriel Medina in the first quarter-final match-up.

Silva scored an 8.67 and a 6.67 with his two last waves to shock the two-time world champion and set up a showdown with Italy's Leonardo Fioravanti in the semis.

Fioravanti earlier in the day eliminated Australia's Morgan Cibilic, who remains fifth on the world tour rankings.

With the Tahiti Pro cancelled due to the COVID situation in the Pacific Island nation, Cibilic is on track to be Australia's sole representative at the season-ending WSL Finals in California next month.

The unique one-day format will feature the top-five ranked surfers in the world competing in a series of elimination heats to determine the 2021 world champion.

Medina, Ferreira and Filipe Toledo complete a Brazilian top three in the rankings, with American Connor Coffin and Cibilic the other two surfers set to take part in the decider at Lower Trestles.