Arthur Gea, a 21-year-old Frenchman ranked 127th in the world, captured his first ATP title on Saturday in Los Cabos, defeating Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-4 in 90 minutes. Shapovalov, the defending champion and 68th-ranked player, was broken three times and committed 37 unforced errors and nine double faults, while managing only two aces.

Gea saved four break points at 2-2 in the first set, then broke Shapovalov in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead and served out the set. The second set saw an exchange of breaks: Gea moved ahead 3-1, Shapovalov pulled back to 3-3, and Gea broke again in the seventh game to lead 4-3, closing out the match on his own serve. The Frenchman won nine of his service games to Shapovalov’s six.

“I was very nervous before this first final, but I had a game plan and I stuck to it,” Gea said. “Two weeks ago I lost a Challenger final and I told myself ‘I can’t lose again.’ Now I’m here.” Gea arrived in Los Cabos with only three ATP-level wins in his career; during the week he defeated Francisco Cerúndolo, then ranked 20th, in the quarter-finals. Shapovalov, who had not played since a fractured rib and shoulder injury, said: “I feel very happy to be healthy again. A few weeks ago I didn’t know if I could play this tournament.”

Gea will rise to 81st in the world when the rankings update on Monday, collecting 250 ranking points and a prize of $131,430. Shapovalov now turns to the National Bank Open in Montreal, where he is scheduled to face Zachary Svajda in the first round.