Cobolli and Tiafoe to clash for Acapulco glory after semi-final thrillers

The first semi-final at the Acapulco ATP500 featured an intense tactical battle between the No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli and the unseeded Serb, Miomir Kecmanovic, on Friday. Cobolli, currently sitting at a career-high world No. 20, had to rely on every ounce of his defensive prowess to navigate a 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 victory that lasted nearly two and a half hours.

The match began with a highly competitive opening set where neither player was willing to concede ground from the baseline. Kecmanovic, who had been on a “giant-killing” run after upsetting top seed Alexander Zverev, played with extreme aggression, but Cobolli’s resilience in the tiebreak proved decisive. The Italian recovered from an early mini-break to take the first set, displaying the same mental fortitude that saw him save multiple break points in his previous round.

Kecmanovic roared back in the second set, breaking Cobolli twice to force a decider. However, in the final set, Cobolli found a higher gear. Reports from Latin American outlets highlight that Cobolli’s fitness was the difference maker; he broke Kecmanovic’s service three times in the third set and ultimately sealed the match with a powerful and precisely placed return that the Serb could not handle.

This victory marks Cobolli’s fourth ATP final, where he will seek his third career title and his first at the ATP 500 level.

Tiafoe’s resilience ends Nakashima’s run

The late-night session saw an all-American clash that lived up to the hype, as Frances Tiafoe staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4. For Tiafoe, the win is a milestone moment, marking his first final in Acapulco in eight attempts.

Nakashima, the world No. 29, dominated the early proceedings. His methodical approach and clean ball-striking left the No. 8 seed frustrated in a lopsided 6-3 opening set. The second set developed into a classic “tug-of-war,” eventually reaching a high-pressure tiebreak. Nakashima was just two points away from the final, but Tiafoe’s flair and crowd-favorite energy took over. Saving a critical point at 5-6 in the tiebreak, Tiafoe reeled off three straight points to snatch the set 8-6 and shift the momentum entirely.

In the deciding set, the “Big Foe” experience was on full display. Tiafoe sharpened his net play and increased his first-serve percentage to 72%, keeping Nakashima on the defensive. After securing a break midway through the set, Tiafoe remained clinical on his own delivery, serving out the match to the delight of the Mexican fans.