Brandon Nakashima continued his impressive summer form on Friday, defeating sixth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (11/9), 4-6, 6-3 to secure his place in the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters semi-finals. Despite facing 22 aces from Fritz, Nakashima capitalized on his opponent’s 31 unforced errors. Although he trailed by a break in the third set, Nakashima rallied to level at 3-3 before breaking again to take a 5-3 lead, ultimately clinching the match with a decisive forehand winner.
Reflecting on his performance, Nakashima noted his growing confidence throughout the summer season. He emphasized that he trusted his game during the final set and expressed pride in how he closed out the contest. His recent momentum includes a Washington semi-final appearance, a runner-up finish at the Montreal Masters, and now his best performance in Cincinnati, all occurring just over a week before the US Open begins.
In the upcoming all-American semi-final, Nakashima will face Frances Tiafoe, who advanced after a grueling victory over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. Tiafoe triumphed 7-6 (7/2), 7-5, requiring four match points to overcome his opponent in a slow-paced but intense battle. Tiafoe acknowledged Musetti’s skill, noting that he had to work hard to earn the win after being broken while serving for the match initially.
On the women’s side, unseeded Czech player Sara Bejlek continued her remarkable run by defeating Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5). Following her previous victory over world number one Aryna Sabalenka, the 20-year-old Bejlek overcame a slow start against the powerful Keys. After trailing 0-3 in the first set, Bejlek fought back, eventually rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the final-set tiebreaker to secure the win with a stinging down-the-line winner.
Bejlek, who claimed her first WTA title in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, credited her persistence for the victory. She stated that she kept believing in herself throughout the match, even when facing a deficit. Her reward is a semi-final clash against fourth-seeded Coco Gauff.
Gauff maintained her dominant form by dispatching 10th-seeded Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 in just 70 minutes. The two-time Grand Slam champion broke Kostyuk six times, losing only five points on her first serve throughout the match. Gauff expressed satisfaction with her progress, noting that she is becoming more decisive and that her serve is showing significant improvement.
Looking ahead to the next round, Gauff acknowledged the challenge posed by Bejlek. She praised the young Czech’s athleticism and speed, noting that she watched Bejlek’s title run in Abu Dhabi and expects a difficult match where every point must be earned. The report also notes that cincinnati, Aug 22, 2026 (AFP) – Brandon Nakashima continued his red-hot pace on Friday, knocking out sixth-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (11/9), 4-6, 6-3 to reach the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters semi-finals. The report also notes that a former Australian open champion and the 2019 winner in Cincinnati, bejlek got off to a slow start against big-hitting Keys. The report also notes that it was always in my head, i believed much more than ever. The report also notes that but Bejlek turned the tables two games later to force the third, keys answered with a love game.
