Tiafoe saves three set points to beat Nakashima and reach second career Masters final, again in Cincinnati
Frances Tiafoe saved three set points to see off Brandon Nakashima 7(-5, 6-3) and reach a second Cincinnati final, setting up a first-Masters-title decider against Arthur Fils.
Frances Tiafoe, Cincinnati 2026 | © Jared Wickerham/Wick Photography for Cincinnati Open
American Frances Tiafoe, the No 17 seed, beat No 27 seed Brandon Nakashima 7-5, 6-3, to reach the final of the Cincinnati Open on Saturday night.
It is Tiafoe’s second career Masters 1000 final, both of them in Cincinnati, and it makes him the last American standing in the men’s draw. The win was his 37th of the season, moving him past Tommy Paul for the most match wins by an American this year.
Tiafoe will face Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No 21 seed, in the final. Fils leads their head-to-head 1-0, from a three-set meeting in Miami last year, their only previous encounter. It is the third final of the season for both men, and whoever wins will collect the first Masters 1000 title of his career.
Serving to stay in the first set at 4-5, Tiafoe saved three set points before holding for 5-5, then broke immediately to lead 6-5 and served out the set 7-5. He carried that momentum into the second, breaking early to lead 3-2, holding to 5-3, and breaking again to close out the match 6-3.
Tiafoe is projected to rise from No 23 to No 12 in Monday’s rankings, one place shy of his career-high of No 11. Nakashima, for his part, is guaranteed a new career-high ranking of No 17.
Both of the players had one of the most remarkable runs of their careers. Tiafoe reached this stage by beating Italian Lorenzo Musetti, the No 10 seed, 7-6 (2), 7-5, Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the second seed, 6-3, 6-4, No 16 seed Learner Tien 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-4.
Nakashima, ranked No 22, had beaten No 6 seed Taylor Fritz 7-6 (9), 4-6, 6-3, Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3, No 4 seed Daniil Medvedev 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 6-1, and Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-2, 7-5, in the previous rounds.
