Four Americans reach Cincinnati Open semifinals as Arthur Fils books final

All-American men's semifinal set in Mason

Frances Tiafoe and Brandon Nakashima won quarterfinal matches on Friday in Mason, Ohio, setting up an all-American men's semifinal at the Cincinnati Open. Tiafoe, ranked 23rd and a 2024 finalist against Jannik Sinner, defeated 15th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (2), 7-5, requiring four match points after Musetti broke back late in the second set. Nakashima defeated Taylor Fritz 7-6, 4-6, 6-3, overcoming 22 aces and 31 unforced errors from his opponent by reversing a third-set break deficit. The matchup marks the first all-American men's semifinal in Cincinnati since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in 2010. Nakashima is coached by Wayne Ferreira, Tiafoe's former coach, making Nakashima the first American man since Fish in 2011 to reach semifinals in both Canada and Cincinnati in the same season.

I've gotten a lot of confidence over the summer. In the final set I trusted my game, I'm proud with how I ended the match.

Fils reaches first Masters 1000 final

On Saturday, 22-year-old French player Arthur Fils defeated Italian Roland Garros finalist Flavio Cobolli in 68 minutes to reach his first Masters 1000 final. Fils became the youngest French finalist at a Masters event since 20-year-old Richard Gasquet in Toronto two decades earlier. Cobolli opened with a 2-1 lead on double faults, but Fils broke back at love, gained a 5-3 lead, and served out the first set in 25 minutes. Fils added another break in the second set and finished with six aces to beat Cobolli for the third time in their series. A weather delay held up the match start, and rain returned shortly after match point, briefly postponing the women's semifinal.

You come on court more nervous because it's a semi-final. The rain arrives, you wait, and when you come back conditions are completely different.

Bejlek continues breakthrough run in women's draw

In the women's tournament, 20-year-old Czech player Sara Bejlek advanced to her first WTA 1000 semifinal by defeating 2019 Cincinnati champion Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) on Friday. Bejlek, ranked 35th, entered the match after eliminating world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets in the round of 16. Keys took the opening set 6-3, but Bejlek recovered from a break down in the second set and rallied from 4-2 down in the deciding tiebreak. The Czech player previously won her first WTA title in Abu Dhabi in February as a qualifier.

I just kept believing in the match no matter what. I believed much more than ever, it was always in my head.

American women advance to final four

Fourth-ranked Coco Gauff advanced to the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over 11th-ranked Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, closing out the match with a backhand winner. Gauff joined third-ranked Jessica Pegula, who reached the final four on Thursday with a victory over Amanda Anisimova. Pegula was scheduled to face fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday's other women's semifinal. Gauff noted Bejlek's title in Abu Dhabi while preparing for their Saturday semifinal match. With Gauff, Pegula, Tiafoe, and Nakashima advancing, four American players reached the semifinal round across both draws.