Frances Tiafoe came back from the brink of defeat to reach the Mexican Open final after getting the better of compatriot Brandon Nakashima in a three-set thriller. 

Nakashima had the chance to win the match at 6-5 in the second set, but Tiafoe roared back before taking the decider to clinch a dramatic 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory. 

Back-to-back breaks of serve at the start of the encounter set the tone for the match, but it was Nakashima who claimed an early advantage in the sixth game. 

And it appeared that Nakashima was going to reach the showpiece match in the second set, only for a winner at the net from Tiafoe ensuring a tie-break would be required. 

Tiafoe endured another scare in the tie-break after squandering a three-point lead, but the world number 28 eventually got himself over the line to take the match the distance. 

A marathon opening game to start the decider saw Tiafoe break Nakashima at the third time of asking, and that was followed by another break in the seventh game to see him lead 5-2. 

Nakashima, however, reeled off the next two games to pile the pressure back on Tiafoe, only for the latter to seal his progression with a huge overhead winner. 

"It's incredible. The stars definitely aligned," Tiafoe said. "Things started to make sense when I was down, a couple of net cords. I made every return at 5-6 [in the second set].

"Obviously, not feeling the best, but just competing and battling — sometimes you get lucky. Played great tennis in the third.

"Never say die. I was ready to empty the tank and see what happens."

Only one walks away with it @cobollifla vs @FTiafoe @AbiertoTelcel | #AMT2026 pic.twitter.com/Dawpjtso6N

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 28, 2026

Tiafoe's reward for his hard-fought triumph is a clash with Flavio Cobolli, who himself edged a three-set clash with Miomir Kecmanovic, winning 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 6-4. 

The fifth seed was pushed the distance in the first, which was decided by a tie-break, only for Kecmanovic to reply with a dominant second set to take the match all the way. 

Cobolli faced two break points at 3-3 in the decider, but the Italian pulled himself out of trouble before going on to win four of the final five games to reach Sunday's final. 

Data Debrief: Can Tiafoe get the job done?

Tiafoe has been put through his paces on his way to the Acapulco final, having also fought off a double match point against Aleksandar Kovacevic in his second-round match, and he will be hoping to continue the momentum from his latest win against Cobolli.  

The American has been to three finals at the ATP 500 level or higher but has finished as the runner-up each time, at Vienna in 2021, Tokyo in 2022, and Cincinnati in 2024, though he does lead his head-to-head record with Cobolli 2-0. 

But Cobolli will want to have his say. Indeed, he is the third Italian to reach three ATP 500 finals since the series began in 2009, joining Jannik Sinner (nine) and Fabio Fognini (three).