Cameron Norrie’s campaign at the Los Cabos Open came to an abrupt end early on Saturday morning when he was outplayed by Denis Shapovalov. The British No.
2 had been on a rough patch, having dropped his previous six matches, yet he arrived in Mexico showing signs of resurgence and had already carved his way into the semi‑finals. Despite rallying to take the second set, Norrie ultimately succumbed 6‑3, 5‑7, 6‑4 to the defending champion Shapovalov. The 30‑year‑old Briton started the encounter on shaky ground, losing his very first service game and falling behind 2‑0.
That early break set the tone for the opening set, and Shapovalov capitalised, closing it out 6‑3. Norrie, however, refused to fold.
In the second set he tightened his game, capitalising on his opportunities and clawing back to level the match after Shapovalov had once again broken him to love. At 6‑5, Norrie earned two set points on his opponent’s serve. He finally seized the set when a crisp forehand volley clipped the line, giving him a 7‑5 lead and a chance to force a deciding third set. The final set proved to be a test of endurance and mental fortitude.
Shapovalov, drawing on the confidence of his recent title defence, steadied his serve and held firm under pressure. After a series of long rallies, the Canadian managed to break Norrie's serve and maintain his advantage, eventually sealing the match after a total playing time of two hours and forty minutes. In the post‑match interview, Shapovalov highlighted his serving performance, saying, "Great serving from me today and I knew I needed it against a guy like Cam.
He doesn't give you many free points so I knew I had to try and hit my serves and hit tricky spots for him." He added, "I am very happy, it was a very tough battle and I am ready to go to sleep." Norrie's exit extends his recent slump, marking his seventh consecutive loss in competitive play. Nevertheless, his run to the semi‑finals in Los Cabos demonstrated that he still possesses the ability to compete at a high level, even if consistency remains elusive. Beyond the men’s singles, the tournament featured several noteworthy storylines. The 2021 Wimbledon semi‑finalist Norrie will now turn his attention to his upcoming match against Arthur Gea on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Arthur Gea secured his place in the next round by defeating Coleman Wong 7‑6(7) 6‑3, a victory that positions Wong to break into the ATP Top 100 for the first time on Monday. On the women’s side, top‑seeded American Jessica Pegula continued her strong season by overcoming Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7‑5, 6‑4 on Saturday. Pegula’s win set up a Washington Open final against the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, who had previously upset Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6‑4, 6‑2.
Pegula, currently ranked World No. 3, is chasing her third title of the year and the twelfth of her career, having already captured titles in Dubai and Charleston. She reflected on her performance, stating, "I just capitalised on a couple of areas. I think I started just trying to find the rhythm on the return.
I didn't think I was that far off ... So, just trying to pick up my energy and again, try and be a little bit more aggressive." Eala, only 21, is now just one win away from her maiden WTA title.
Her semi‑final victory over Osaka was marked by composure and tactical precision. After breaking Osaka in the ninth game of the opening set, Eala held serve to love and took the first set.
She maintained the momentum in the second, breaking early again and extending her lead to 4‑2 before closing out the match in straight sets. Eala praised her own performance, noting, "I think I played really well and, of course, it's such a meaningful match against a great player. So really happy to share the court with Naomi." The tournament also highlighted the broader tennis calendar, with upcoming ATP and WTA events, live broadcast schedules on Sky Sports, and the 2026 tennis calendar and its anticipated champions. As the Los Cabos Open wraps up, fans can look forward to the Washington Open final, where Pegula and Eala will vie for the trophy, adding another chapter to a season already rich with compelling narratives and emerging talent.