Acapulco
Tiafoe mounts heroic comeback to reach Acapulco final: ‘Stars aligned’

American to face Cobolli for ATP 500 crown

February 28, 2026

Mextenis

Frances Tiafoe is aiming for his first ATP Tour trophy since 2023.
By ATP Staff

Frances Tiafoe is known to produce entertaining tennis, and he did just that Friday at 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, where the American is one win away from his biggest ATP Tour trophy.

Nakashima nervously served for the match at 6-5 in the second set, when Tiafoe earned a 15/40 lead and clinched the break with a net-cord winner. Tiafoe had another scare in the tie-break, during which he led 6/3 before being two points from defeat at 6/6.

The No. 28 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Tiafoe converted one of his four break chances in the opening game of the decider. Deflating the hopes of Nakashima with a double break later that set, Tiafoe eventually improved to 6-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the 24-year-old, sealing the victory after two hours and 49 minutes.

“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.”

It was not Tiafoe’s first dramatic win this week. The 28-year-old saved two match points in the second round to survive Aleksandar Kovacevic. Seeking his fourth tour-level crown, Tiafoe will face fifth seed Flavio Cobolli in Saturday’s final.

Cobolli earned a hard-fought win of his own right 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 in the decider before tallying five of the next six games to advance.

Facing two break points at 3-3 in the decider, Cobolli crushed serve plus-one forehand winners on back-to-back points to escape danger. Cobolli again held his nerve after failing to serve out the match at 5-3, quickly rebounding to earn a 0/40 lead the following game. He converted his second match point and raised his arms in relief.

“We played an incredible match,” said Cobolli. “I’m really happy to be in the final for the first time here in Mexico. I think we both played an amazing match. I was a little bit lucky at the end, because at the crucial points sometimes you need luck. I’m really proud of myself because it wasn’t easy to come back.”

Cobolli is the third Italian to reach three ATP 500 finals since the series began in 2009, joining Jannik Sinner (9) and Fabio Fognini (3). Should Cobolli win the Acapulco crown, he could surpass his career-high No. 17. Tiafoe leads Cobolli 2-0 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.