Cincinnati Open 2026 Day Nine Recap

The Cincinnati Open semi-final lineup was set on Friday, with Brandon Nakashima and Frances Tiafoe making certain at the very least one American in Sunday’s closing.

Nakashima continued one of the best run of his profession by outlasting Taylor Fritz in a high-quality three-set battle, backing up his run to the Montreal closing with one other deep Masters 1000 marketing campaign.

Tiafoe joined him within the final 4 after producing one other composed show to defeat Lorenzo Musetti, establishing an all-American semi-final for the primary time in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish met at this stage in 2010.

Right here’s how Friday’s semi finals performed out.

Day 9 Cincinnati Open Quarterfinal Outcomes

Winner
Loser
Rating

Brandon Nakashima (27)
Taylor Fritz (6)
7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3

Frances Tiafoe (17)
Lorenzo Musetti (10)
7-6(2), 7-5

Key Match Recap

Brandon Nakashima def. Taylor Fritz 7-6(9), 4-6, 6-3

Brandon Nakashima continued one of the best spell of his profession by toppling Taylor Fritz to succeed in back-to-back Masters 1000 semi-finals.

Fritz served beautifully all through, dropping simply three factors behind his first serve within the opener, however Nakashima hung robust, saving a set level earlier than finally taking the tie-break on his fifth alternative.

Fritz responded nicely to stage the match and seemed to have seized management when he broke early within the deciding set.

Nevertheless, Nakashima by no means panicked. He instantly steadied himself, discovered one other gear from the baseline and reeled off the ultimate 4 video games to finish one other spectacular comeback.

The American’s confidence is sky excessive proper now. It’s pretty widespread for gamers to flop in back-to-back Masters 1000s after they had an excellent first match, however not Nakashima, and he’s picked up some first rate scalps with Daniil Medvedev earlier within the week and now Fritz.

Match Stats

Key Stats
Taylor Fritz
Brandon Nakashima

Winners
41
25

Unforced Errors
34
25

Aces
22
13

Double Faults
3
4

1st Serve %
58% (52/90)
58% (60/104)

1st Serve Factors Received
83% (43/52)
85% (51/60)

2nd Serve Factors Received
53% (20/38)
43% (19/44)

Break Factors Saved
33% (1/3)
67% (4/6)

Service Video games
87% (13/15)
88% (14/16)

1st Return Factors Received
15% (9/60)
17% (9/52)

2nd Return Factors Received
57% (25/44)
47% (18/38)

Break Factors Received
33% (2/6)
67% (2/3)

Return Video games
13% (2/16)
13% (2/15)

Stress Factors
33% (3/9)
67% (6/9)

Service Factors
70% (63/90)
67% (70/104)

Return Factors
33% (34/104)
30% (27/90)

Web Factors
67% (2/3)
75% (3/4)

Whole Factors
50% (97/194)
50% (97/194)

Max Factors In A Row
5
6

Whole Video games
48% (15/31)
52% (16/31)

Max Video games In A Row
3
4

Frances Tiafoe def. Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(2), 7-5

Frances Tiafoe backed up his victory over Félix Auger-Aliassime by ending Lorenzo Musetti’s run to e book a spot within the semi-finals.

The opening set was determined by a wonderful tie-break from the American, who raced by it 7-2 earlier than trying to have one foot within the final 4 when he served for the match at 5-4 within the second.

Musetti refused to go quietly, breaking again, however Tiafoe responded instantly, breaking the Italian as soon as extra earlier than changing his fourth match level to seal victory.

Tiafoe’s baseline sport has seemed noticeably sharper this week, and after his harm scare in Montreal, he’s taking part in a few of his greatest tennis of the summer season.