The Merewether surfer lost to the defending world champion in the round of 16 after late priority errors gave the Brazilian two chances in the final four minutes to overtake him for the win. Medina went on to defeat Italo Ferreira in the final of the sixth stop on the championship tour.

"That one actually really stung," Callinan said of the loss while in commentary.

"I haven't felt a heat loss like that in a while but I definitely love versing him. I think he might be my favourite person to verse that I've been versing lately. He really seems to bring out the best in me and I can't wait for the next one."

The round-of-16 effort was enough for Callinan to maintain his ranking of ninth.

"I just lost a bit of focus and I could see the finish line, and you don't get many opportunities to beat a world champ and I saw that as one," he continued.

"I maybe made a couple of crucial errors at the end to give him two opportunities, which is all he needs.

"It was a hard loss but I've learnt from it and I move on."

Callinan, the highest-ranked Australian on tour, will not compete at the US Open 10,000-point qualifying series contest this week and will instead train at Kelly Slater's wave pool and focus on preparing for the Tahiti Open at Teahupo'o on the CT from August 21.

"I'm really excited for Chopes," he said.

"And France I obviously had a really good result in last year and I feel like I was in form there and I'm excited to go there, but I feel like every comp you can turn up and anything can happen, so I'm trying to keep it open, not put my eggs all in that basket and just hope to do my best in all of them."