Reuters: Cobolli and Tiafoe reach Acapulco final as reuters notes two three-set thrillers
Flavio Cobolli and Frances Tiafoe won grueling three-set semi-finals to secure places in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC 2026 Acapulco final, a pair of results that reshaped the late-night session. coverage of the Acapulco ATP500 highlighted long rallies, late swings in momentum and physical tests that determined both matches.
: Cobolli outlasts Miomir Kecmanovic in nearly two-and-a-half-hour semi
The first semi-final at the Acapulco ATP500 saw No. 5 seed Flavio Cobolli defeat the unseeded Serb Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 on Friday in a contest that lasted nearly two and a half hours. Cobolli, billed in the draw as an Italian currently sitting at a career-high world No. 20, relied on deep defense and late returns to close out the final set.
Cobolli’s endurance and a decisive third set: fitness flagged by Latin American outlets
The match opened with a highly competitive baseline set in which neither player wanted to concede ground. Kecmanovic, who had been on a "giant-killing" run after upsetting top seed Alexander Zverev, played with extreme aggression, but Cobolli recovered from an early mini-break to take the first-set tiebreak. Kecmanovic roared back to break Cobolli twice in the second set, yet Cobolli broke the Serb’s service three times in the third and sealed victory with a powerful, precisely placed return that Kecmanovic could not handle. Reports from Latin American outlets highlighted Cobolli’s fitness as the difference maker, and the Italian’s resilience followed a previous round in which he had saved multiple break points.
Tiafoe rallies past Brandon Nakashima in late-night all-American clash
The late-night session delivered an all-American clash as Frances Tiafoe staged a comeback to defeat Brandon Nakashima 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. Nakashima, listed as the world No. 29, dominated early with a methodical approach and clean ball-striking that produced a lopsided 6-3 opening set and left the No. 8 seed frustrated.
Key moments: tiebreak drama and a saved match point
The second set became a tug-of-war that reached a high-pressure tiebreak. Nakashima was two points from the final, but Tiafoe saved a critical point at 5-6 in the tiebreak and then reeled off three straight points to snatch the set 8-6. That swing shifted momentum into the deciding set and set the stage for Tiafoe’s late surge.
Net play, a 72% first-serve and celebration for Mexican fans
In the decider Tiafoe’s "Big Foe" experience was on full display: he sharpened his net play and increased his first-serve percentage to 72%, keeping Nakashima on the defensive. After securing a break midway through the set, Tiafoe remained clinical on his own delivery and served out the match to the delight of the Mexican fans. For Tiafoe the win marks his first final in Acapulco in eight attempts.
What the wins mean: Cobolli eyes an ATP 500 breakthrough, Tiafoe ends Acapulco drought
Cobolli’s victory moves him into his fourth ATP final, where he will seek a third career title and his first at the ATP 500 level. Tiafoe’s comeback ends an Acapulco streak without a final after seven previous attempts, delivering his first final appearance in the tournament on this run. Together, the two wins set up the Acapulco final for the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC 2026.
