An all-American semifinal awaits us at the ATP 500 in Acapulco as Frances Tiafoe plays Brandon Nakashima for a spot in the championship match, while in the other semifinal, Flavio Cobolli and Miomir Kecmanovic square up for a chance to win their third title on tour. Who will advance?

ATP Acapulco Semifinals
Flavio Cobolli vs Miomir Kecmanovic

Head–to–Head: Cobolli 0 – 1 Kecmanovic

Quite interesting to note that two players who have done tremendously well on clay until now have now transitioned to hardcourts rather seamlessly, more so Flavio Cobolli, who, though he prefers the dirt (his two titles have been on the surface), has been putting on scintillating displays on hardcourts. The Italian can be terribly inconsistent; however, when he kicks into gear, he is arguably one of the unplayable players on tour.

This will be the second meeting between the two players, with the Serbian demolishing the Italian in his home tournament in Napoli four years ago. On clay, the Italian would have a slight edge, but Kecmanovic loves the courts fast and moreso in Acapulco. Cobolli won’t make this easy, but the match is on Kecmanovic’s racket.
Prediction: Kecmanovic in 3

Frances Tiafoe vs Brandon Nakashima

Head–to–Head:  First Meeting

Frances Tiafoe faces fellow American Brandon Nakashima in Mexico in a matchup that has historically tilted his way. Now ranked No. 28, Tiafoe has stabilised his season after a somewhat inconsistent start, sharpening his edge to go on a three-match bounce since losing to the Delray Beach quarterfinal to another American, Learner Tien. He holds a commanding 4–0 head-to-head record over Nakashima on the main Tour, though they have not met since 2022.

Nakashima, meanwhile, arrives at a career-high No. 29 and in far better form than he showed at the start of the year, when he failed to clear the Australian Open first round, even though he reached the Brisbane final.

Tiafoe controls the head-to-head and will control the big moments; however, Nakashima has enough firepower and resoluteness to take this encounter for the first time.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3

Main Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports