Tiafoe mounts heroic comeback to succeed in Acapulco last: 'Stars aligned'

Acapulco

Tiafoe mounts heroic comeback to succeed in Acapulco last: ‘Stars aligned’

American to face Cobolli for ATP 500 crown

February 28, 2026

Frances Tiafoe is thought to provide entertaining tennis, and he did simply that Friday on the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

The eighth-seeded American escaped countryman Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4 in a dramatic topsy-turvy battle in Acapulco, the place the American is one win away from his largest ATP Tour trophy.

Nakashima nervously served for the match at 6-5 within the second set, when Tiafoe earned a 15/40 lead and clinched the break with a net-cord winner. Tiafoe had one other scare within the tie-break, throughout which he led 6/3 earlier than being two factors from defeat at 6/6.

The No. 28 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings, Tiafoe transformed one in all his 4 break probabilities within the opening recreation of the decider. Deflating the hopes of Nakashima with a double break later that set, Tiafoe finally improved to 6-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head collection towards the 24-year-old, sealing the victory after two hours and 49 minutes.

“It’s unbelievable. The celebs undoubtedly aligned,” Tiafoe mentioned. “Issues began to make sense once I was down, a few web cords. I made each return at 5-6 [in the second set]. Clearly not feeling the perfect, however simply competing and battling — generally you get fortunate. Performed nice tennis within the third.

“By no means say die. I used to be able to empty the tank and see what occurs.”

It was not Tiafoe’s first dramatic win this week. The 28-year-old saved two match factors within the second spherical to outlive Aleksandar Kovacevic. Searching for his fourth tour-level crown, Tiafoe will face fifth seed Flavio Cobolli in Saturday’s last.

Cobolli earned a hard-fought win of his personal proper when he dispatched Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 in a two-hour, 26-minute semi-final. The 23-year-old trailed 1-3 within the decider earlier than tallying 5 of the subsequent six video games to advance.

Dealing with two break factors at 3-3 within the decider, Cobolli crushed serve plus-one forehand winners on back-to-back factors to flee hazard. Cobolli once more held his nerve after failing to serve out the match at 5-3, shortly rebounding to earn a 0/40 lead the next recreation. He transformed his second match level and raised his arms in aid.

“We performed an unbelievable match,” mentioned Cobolli. “I’m actually completely satisfied to be within the last for the primary time right here in Mexico. I feel we each performed an incredible match. I used to be slightly bit fortunate on the finish, as a result of on the essential factors generally you want luck. I’m actually happy with myself as a result of it wasn’t straightforward to come back again.”

Cobolli is the third Italian to succeed in three ATP 500 finals for the reason that collection started in 2009, becoming a member of Jannik Sinner (9) and Fabio Fognini (3). Ought to Cobolli win the Acapulco crown, he might surpass his career-high No. 17. Tiafoe leads Cobolli 2-0 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.