MASON, Ohio — The Cincinnati Open will have an all-American semifinal after Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima earned quarterfinal victories on Friday to set up a showdown for a place in Sunday’s final.
Tiafoe continued his strong run in Mason with a straight-sets victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, winning 7-6(2), 7-5 to reach his third career ATP Masters 1000 semifinal. The 28-year-old also advances to the Cincinnati semifinals for the second time in the past three years.
On the other side of the draw, Nakashima delivered another statement performance, upsetting sixth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3 in a two-hour, 13-minute battle. The 25-year-old closed the match by winning the final four games of the deciding set.
A summer to remember for Nakashima
Nakashima’s victory continues one of the strongest stretches of his career. After reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Montreal last week, the American has now reached back-to-back Masters 1000 semifinals for the first time.
His win over Fritz also adds another chapter to an impressive North American hard-court swing that has quickly turned Nakashima into one of the players to watch heading into the US Open.
Tiafoe returns to familiar territory
For Tiafoe, Cincinnati remains a special place. The American reached the final here in 2024, and his latest run has brought him back into the final four after victories over Learner Tien, Felix Auger-Aliassime and now Musetti.
His win over Musetti was another composed performance in a tournament that has seen Tiafoe rediscover his best form on home soil.
A familiar matchup
Saturday’s semifinal will not be their first meeting of the season.
Tiafoe defeated Nakashima in the semifinals of Acapulco earlier this year, coming back from a set down to win 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4. Nakashima served for the match in the second set before Tiafoe mounted the comeback.
That result gives Tiafoe the edge in their recent history, but Nakashima arrives in Cincinnati playing some of the best tennis of his career.
Now, with a place in the Cincinnati Open final at stake, one of the two Americans will take another major step forward in one of the biggest hard-court tournaments of the season.
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