Frances Tiafoe will face Brandon Nakashima for a spot in the Cincinnati Open final after he avoided late drama in his straight-sets victory against Lorenzo Musetti. 

Tiafoe, a beaten finalist at the event in 2024, moved one step closer to competing in the showpiece match once again with a 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 win in two hours and 17 minutes. 

But it was Musetti who started the brighter, breaking his American opponent in the fifth game, only for Tiafoe to immediately respond at the fifth time of asking in the next game.

Tiafoe then had to save another break point in the following game as a tie-break was needed to split the two players, and it was the 17th seed who prevailed comfortably. 

An early break in the second set allowed Tiafoe to surge into a 3-1 lead and in control of proceedings as he brought up match point, but he was unable to convert his opportunity. 

Musetti was able to get the better of Tiafoe's serve to ensure the match would continue, but the Italian saw his good work undone as Tiafoe reeled off the final two games, sealing his spot in the final four on serve. 

"I just gotta play to win," Tiafoe said. "We're all just [searching for that] one per cent, trying to figure it out.

"The guy who plays a little more brave at certain moments gets it. I was hitting my shots great. From the back of the court I've been playing really well, so I was counting on that."

Big Foe is in it to win it. @CincyTennis | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/jHGwDMFeDB

— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 22, 2026

Tiafoe flying the flag but Nakashima test awaits

Now tied with Tommy Paul for the most wins by an American this season (36), Tiafoe has now reached his third career semi-final at an ATP Masters 1000 event, after Indian Wells in 2023 and Cincinnati two years ago. 

The 28-year-old will aim to go one step further this weekend and claim his biggest career title, and he will want to build on this victory. Tiafoe is the fourth man this season to record eight top-20 wins, joining Jannik Sinner (13), Carlos Alcaraz and Thiago Agustin Tirante (both eight).

It means one home hopeful will be in Sunday's final, too. Two Americans (Tiafoe and Nakashima) will face each other in the semi-finals at the Cincinnati Open for the first time since 2010 (Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick).

And history favours Tiafoe in this match-up. Including Challengers, Tiafoe has won seven of the eight career meetings against Nakashima, who only won in Tokyo 2024 (6-1 at ATP level). 

Nakashima is also the opponent against whom Tiafoe has claimed the joint-most ATP level main draw wins so far in his career (six, level with Daniel Evans).