The Merewether surfer went down 13.4 to 13.17 on Monday (local time) to the Evans Head sensation, who then lost his quarter-final to Brazilian Yago Dora 14.17 to 7.

Baker started the better, going to his backhand to earn scores of 4.33 and 6.0 with two and three-move rides inside the first eight minutes of the 35-minute contest.

Fellow regular-footer Robson, though, hit back quickly for a heat-high 8.33 from two big backhand hits to lead 10.4 to 10.33 on best two-wave totals.

A 4.57 from a frontside combination pushed Robson to 12.9 but Baker stayed on his hammer at 12.5 with a 6.5 from three backhand turns with 15 minutes left.

Needing a 6.41, Baker rode out of two quality backside hits for a 6.67 inside the last 10 minutes to lead 13.17 to 12.9. Chasing a 4.84, Robson fired right back with a 5.07 on his backhand to edge ahead. Baker required a 6.74 in the final minutes and he took off on a wave in the dying seconds but it fizzled out.

Sitting 22^nd on the standings before the eighth CT stop, Baker still has the J-Bay Open and Tahiti Pro left to improve his position.

"Really enjoyed my first time here in Brazil, such an amazing place and some of the most passionate fans in the world," Baker posted on social media. "Gave it a good crack today but came up short. Losing sucks but learning more and more every event. Thank you everyone for your support. Bring on JBay."

AAP reports: Brazilian ace Filipe Toledo has excelled in his home break to become the first qualifier for the five-man finals showdown as the points race tightens for Australian contenders.

Top-ranked Toledo won through to all-Brazilian semi-finals at the Rio Pro but he had already secured enough points, with two events remaining, to clinch a spot in the finals at Trestles in September when the world champion will be decided.

That was assured when countryman Yago Dora eliminated Australia's world No.5 Ethan Ewing in the round of 16. In another potentially costly Australian defeat, world No.2 Jack Robinson (11.67) was ousted in the round of 16 by Brazil's Mateus Herdy (11.74), losing a desperately close heat after his buzzer-beater attempt came up just short.

Toledo took out Australian No.13 Connor O'Leary to set up a clash with Dora in one semi-final while Samuel Pupo and world No.4 Italo Ferreira meet in the other.

With a win and three runner-up finishes at the past five events before Rio, Toledo has stamped himself as a huge title threat.

"It's crazy. After all the events and the results, the hard work, leaving my family behind, all the things I've had to sacrifice, I'm over the moon," Toledo said of reaching the Trestles finals.

"This is what we want, this is our first goal, and getting the news here in Brazil is just incredible.

"It's all just very emotional now. I rarely get the chance to be at an event with my wife and kids, so to have them here with me and clinch a spot in the final five means a lot."

The women's semi-finals are also still to be decided after a day off in their competition.

France's Johanne Defray faces Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan in one semi while Carissa Moore meets Brazil's Tatiana Weston-Webb in the other.

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