Cameron Norrie’s campaign at the Los Cabos Open came to an abrupt end in the early hours of Saturday, when he was outplayed by Denis Shapovalov. The British player, who occupies the No. 2 spot for his country, had been struggling with a six‑match losing streak, yet he managed to fight his way into the semi‑finals in Mexico, showing signs of resurgence before the final hurdle proved too steep. The encounter unfolded as a tightly contested three‑set battle.
After dropping the opening set 6‑3, Norrie rallied admirably, capturing the second set 7‑5. However, the momentum shifted once again as Shapovalov reclaimed control, sealing the match 6‑4 in the decider and advancing to the championship round after a grueling 2 hour and 40 minute contest. From the first point, the Canadian challenger put pressure on Norrie’s service game. A break on the opening service game left the British player trailing 0‑2, and he was unable to recover the early deficit, ultimately conceding the first set.
In the second set, Norrie displayed resilience, capitalising on his chances and breaking Shapovalov’s serve to level the match at one set all. At 6‑5, Norrie even earned two set points on Shapovalov’s serve, and a crisp forehand volley that clipped the line gave him the set, sparking hopes of a comeback.
Despite the surge, Shapovalov’s power and precision proved decisive in the final set. He held his serve consistently, fending off Norrie’s attempts to break and eventually clinching the match. After the win, Shapovalov praised his own serving performance, noting that he had to hit “tricky spots” to prevent Norrie from taking free points.
"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 said, adding that he was “very happy” after a “tough battle” and ready to rest. The 30‑year‑old Norrie, who reached the Wimbledon semi‑finals in 2021, will now look to regroup after this setback.
His recent form has been inconsistent, but his run to the Los Cabos semi‑final demonstrated that he still possesses the tools to compete at a high level. In other news from the tournament, the Frenchman Arthur Gea secured a spot in the final by defeating Coleman Wong 7‑6(7) 6‑3.
Wong, who is on the cusp of breaking into the ATP Top 100 for the first time, put up a strong fight but fell short in the tiebreak. On the women’s side, top‑seeded American Jessica Pegula continued her impressive run, overcoming Russia’s Diana Shnaider 7‑5 6‑4 to book a place in the Washington Open final. Pegula, currently ranked No. 3 in the world, is chasing her third title of the year and the 12th of her career after earlier triumphs in Dubai and Charleston.
The 32‑year‑old captured her first Washington title in 2019 and remains determined to add another trophy to her collection. "I just capitalised on a couple of areas," Pegula explained. "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." Her opponent in the final will be the Philippines’ rising star Alexandra Eala, who stunned Japan’s Naomi Osaka with a 6‑4 6‑2 victory.
Eala, only 21, is now just one win away from her maiden WTA title. The young Filipino has already reached three semi‑finals this season, including a notable win over second‑seed Elina Svitolina, marking her sixth victory of the year against a top‑10 player.
Eala’s composure against Osaka, a four‑time Grand Slam champion, was evident throughout the match. After breaking Osaka in the ninth game of the first set and then holding serve to love, she carried the momentum into the second set, breaking early again and extending her lead to 4‑2 before closing out the match without dropping a set. Reflecting on her performance, Eala said, "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." Her steady rise has been highlighted by a strong showing at Wimbledon, where she reached the fourth round last month, and her continued success suggests she could soon become a regular fixture in the upper echelons of the women’s tour.
Overall, the Los Cabos Open has delivered a blend of drama, emerging talent, and seasoned competitors vying for titles. While Norrie’s journey ended sooner than hoped, the tournament’s broader narrative showcases the depth of talent across both the ATP and WTA circuits, setting the stage for exciting finals in both the men’s and women’s draws.