08/21/26 10:38:00
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08/21 22:37 CDT Americans Gauff, Tiafoe, Nakashima and Pegula reach the
semifinal round at Cincinnati Open
Americans Gauff, Tiafoe, Nakashima and Pegula reach the semifinal round at
Cincinnati Open
By JEFF WALLNER
Associated Press
MASON, Ohio (AP) --- Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima won quarterfinal
matches Friday night to set up one all-American men's semifinal at the
Cincinnati Open. Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula also advanced to make it four
U.S. players in the semis.
"It's insane, I think we're all doing so well," Gauff said. "Hopefully, you
know, we can have a double title win. Obviously there are more matches to be
played for that to happen. We definitely root for each other."
Tiafoe beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti, 7-6 (2), 7-5, and Nakashima beat fellow
American Taylor Fritz, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, marking the first time two Americans have
reached the men's semifinals in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in
2010.
Nakashima is the first American man to reach the semifinals in Canada and
Cincinnati in the same season since Fish in 2011. Nakashima is coached by
Tiafoe's former coach, Wayne Ferreira.
"It's a guy who knows me pretty well in Wayne," Tiafoe said. "I expect some
good serving and all the best from him. Happy where I've been mentally more
than anything. This has been a great week."
Tiafoe reached the Cincinnati finals in 2024, losing to Jannik Sinner.
The other men's semifinal Saturday features Italy's Flavio Cobolli against
Frenchman Arthur Fils.
Gauff beat Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, 6-2, 6-2. Gauff will face surprise entrant
20-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek on Saturday.
Bejlek outlasted 2019 champion Madison Keys, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Friday. She
upset No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the Round of 16.
"Sara is a great player," Gauff said. "I watched her a lot in Abu Dhabi (in
February) this year when she won that title. So I think it's going to be a
tough match. I'm looking forward to it."
Pegula, ranked No. 3 and who beat Amanda Anisimova on Thursday, will face
fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday's other semifinal.
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See AP's full tennis coverage here
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