Tiafoe, Nakashima, Gauff, and Pegula Reach Cincinnati Open Semifinals

Frances Tiafoe defeated Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (2), 7-5 to secure his spot in the Cincinnati Open semifinals alongside three other American players.

Frances Tiafoe secured a 7-6 (2), 7-5 victory over Italian Lorenzo Musetti on Friday night, while Brandon Nakashima defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 to finalize an all-American men's semifinal at the Cincinnati Open. In the women's draw, Coco Gauff advanced by beating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 scoreline. Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3 who defeated Amanda Anisimova on Thursday, also progressed to the final four. This collective performance marks the first time since 2010, when Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish achieved the feat, that two American men have reached the semifinal stage in Mason, Ohio.

Key details

Brandon Nakashima’s three-set win over Fritz makes him the first American man to reach the semifinals in both Canada and Cincinnati during the same season since Mardy Fish in 2011. Nakashima is currently coached by Wayne Ferreira, who previously served as the coach for Tiafoe. Reflecting on the upcoming matchup, Tiafoe noted that Ferreira knows his game well and stated he expects high-quality serving from his opponent. Tiafoe, who reached the Cincinnati finals in 2024 before falling to Jannik Sinner, expressed satisfaction with his mental state during what he described as a great week of competition.

Coco Gauff’s straight-sets victory sets up a Saturday semifinal against 20-year-old Czech player Sara Bejlek. Bejlek reached this stage by outlasting 2019 champion Madison Keys in a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) quarterfinal marathon on Friday. Earlier in the tournament, the young Czech upset top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets during the Round of 16. Gauff noted she has been tracking Bejlek’s progress since the Czech won a title in Abu Dhabi this February. On the other side of the bracket, fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek awaits Jessica Pegula for their Saturday semifinal encounter.

The remaining men's semifinal scheduled for Saturday features Italy’s Flavio Cobolli facing off against Frenchman Arthur Fils. While the American contingent hopes for a double title win across the men's and women's singles categories, Gauff acknowledged that significant matches remain before that possibility can be realized. The Friday night results ensured that at least one American man will compete in the championship match. The tournament, held in Mason, Ohio, saw these quarterfinal matches conclude at 11:39 PM ET on August 21, 2026, setting the stage for the penultimate round of play.

Latest developments

Tiafoe’s triumph over Musetti involved a tiebreak where the American conceded only two points, showcasing a high level of efficiency under pressure. The match concluded with a 7-5 second set that avoided a decider, allowing the Maryland native to preserve energy for the upcoming clash with Nakashima. Meanwhile, Nakashima’s path to the final four required overcoming a mid-match surge from Fritz, who claimed the second set 6-4 before the younger American regained control in the final frame. This victory reinforces Nakashima's recent consistency on North American hard courts, following his deep run in the Canadian tournament earlier this month.

On the women's side, the 6-2, 6-2 scoreline produced by Gauff against Kostyuk highlights a significant gap in performance during their quarterfinal meeting. Gauff’s ability to neutralize the Ukrainian’s serve allowed her to dictate play from the baseline throughout the match. Bejlek, her next opponent, has become the tournament’s breakout star after her grueling victory over Keys, which lasted over two hours and ended in a tense third-set tiebreak. The Czech player’s earlier 6-4, 6-3 win against Sabalenka serves as a warning of her potential to disrupt the higher seeds in the bracket.

Jessica Pegula enters her semifinal against Swiatek with momentum from her straight-sets win over Anisimova. The world No. 3 has maintained a high first-serve percentage throughout the week, a metric that will be critical when facing the defensive capabilities of the Polish top seed. Swiatek’s presence in the semifinals ensures that the top half of the draw remains highly competitive, as she seeks to add another hard-court title to her resume. The scheduling for Saturday places these high-stakes matches in the afternoon and evening sessions, providing a full day of elite tennis for the spectators in Mason.