Droguet dominates – Popyrin without answers
It was a clear statement of intent from the Frenchman: Titouan Droguet defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 in the semifinals of the Cincinnati Open on the outdoor hard courts of the Lindner Family Tennis Center to book his place in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 event. For Popyrin, the scoreline read 6-7, 1-6 – a bitter defeat for the Australian, who simply had no answer to Droguet's level throughout the semifinal.
The 25-year-old Droguet, who reached a career-high ranking of 107 in May 2026 during what has been his strongest season to date, produced his best tennis from the very first point. With seven aces and 21 winners he applied relentless pressure, while Popyrin struggled badly with 29 unforced errors and just 16 winners of his own.
First set: tiebreak settles it
The opening set was closely contested until the tiebreak brought the picture sharply into focus. Droguet romped through it 7-2 – a display reminiscent of his performance in Montreal, where he dispatched Luca Van Assche in the third set with a 7-0 tiebreak in the first qualifying round. Once again in Cincinnati, Droguet proved that he raises his game when it matters most.
Popyrin, who won only 54 per cent of his service games and managed just 38 per cent of points on second serve, found himself under mounting pressure as the set wore on. Droguet, by contrast, held serve in 89 per cent of his service games and won a commanding 84 per cent of first-serve points – figures that clearly illustrated his dominance on serve.
Second set: Droguet shifts into another gear
In the second set the match broke open entirely in the Frenchman's favour. Droguet converted his break points at a rate of 57 per cent, while Popyrin saved only 43 per cent of the break points he faced. The result was a 6-1 set that left Popyrin with almost nothing to show for his efforts. Overall, Droguet claimed 58 per cent of all points and won 63 per cent of all games – numbers that leave no doubt about the margin of his superiority.
For Popyrin, the defeat is yet another setback in a difficult season. The Australian, who celebrated the biggest win of his career at the 2024 Canadian Open in Montreal and climbed into the top 20 on the back of it, has since slipped to world ranking 139. His 2026 season record entering Cincinnati already stood at 11-20 – and this semifinal loss in Ohio only continued that downward trend.
Looking ahead: Droguet chases the title
Titouan Droguet, meanwhile, stands on the verge of the biggest match of his career. The Frenchman, who has made steady progress up the rankings throughout this season, will go for his first Masters 1000 title in the Cincinnati Open final. His serve and his composure in tiebreaks make him a dangerous opponent for whoever he faces on the outdoor hard courts in Ohio.
