Norrie's losing streak hits six as Shapovalov and Gea reach Los Cabos final

Cameron Norrie’s search for a first victory in six attempts ended in defeat at the Los Cabos Open semi-finals on Saturday. The British number two lost to defending champion Denis Shapovalov in three sets, 6-3 5-7 6-4, after a hard-fought match lasting two hours and 40 minutes.

The 30-year-old, who won the Mexican tournament in 2021, struggled early and was broken to love in his opening service game to fall 2-0 down. Although he recovered to claim the second set, converting his second set point with a forehand volley winner, the Canadian ultimately proved too strong in the decider.

Shapovalov acknowledged the physical and tactical difficulty of the contest after the match. "I am very happy, it was a very tough battle and I am ready to go to sleep," he said, noting that his British opponent rarely concedes free points.

The reigning champion will now face France's Arthur Gea in Sunday's final, keeping European representation alive in the tournament's concluding stages. Gea secured his spot in the championship match by defeating Coleman Wong in straight sets, 7-6(7) 6-3.

While the Frenchman advances to play for the trophy, the narrow loss still guarantees his opponent a significant financial milestone. Breaking into the ATP Top 100 on Monday secures Wong's entry into major main draws, unlocking higher prize money and more lucrative sponsorship opportunities.

Meanwhile, at the Washington Open, top-seeded American Jessica Pegula advanced to the final with a 7-5 6-4 victory over Russia's Diana Shnaider. "I just capitalised on a couple of areas," Pegula said, explaining that she focused on finding her rhythm on the return to be more aggressive.

The 32-year-old world number three is pursuing her third title of the season and her twelfth overall, having previously won the Washington event in 2019 and secured recent victories in Dubai and Charleston. Consistent success on the tour bolsters her standing in a highly commercialised sport, where winning titles translates directly into increased appearance fees and global brand partnerships.

Eala is seeking her first WTA title following a highly competitive summer on the tour. Her run to the final included a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon last month and a semi-final victory over second seed Elina Svitolina, marking her sixth win against a top-10 opponent this season.