Cameron Norrie's Los Cabos Open bid ended with a three-set semi-final defeat by defending champion Denis Shapovalov.
The British number two had returned to form by reaching the last four, having previously lost six matches in a row. However, he was beaten 6-3 5-7 6-4 by his fellow left-hander.
Norrie's campaign was derailed in the first set, broken in his first service game to fall 2-0 down. He failed to break back, losing the opening set.
The second set saw Norrie level, but his Canadian opponent broke to love with a stunning forehand return. Norrie carved out two set points on Shapovalov's serve at 6-5 up, taking the second when a forehand volley caught the line.
Despite a promising start to the second set, Norrie's performance was inconsistent. He was broken in the first game of the third set, setting the tone for the final set.
Shapovalov held his serve throughout the third set, completing victory in two hours 39 minutes. He will now face France's Arthur Gea in the final after beating Hong Kong's Coleman Wong 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Norrie's defeat marks the end of a promising run, having previously lost six matches in a row. The British number two had won the Los Cabos title in 2021, but will have to regroup ahead of the next tournament.
The loss for Norrie is a setback, but it also provides an opportunity for him to reassess his game and come back stronger. The British number two will look to bounce back from this defeat and make a push for the top spots in the rankings.
Source: BBC Sports