Frances Tiafoe has won his quarterfinal at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. The American beat Lorenzo Musetti 7:6 (7:2) and 7:5, advancing to multiple Masters 1000 semifinals in the same season for the first time in his career – following his run to the last four in Miami earlier this year, further proof of his rise to the upper echelons of the game.
Tiebreak settles the opening set
The first set developed into a closely matched battle between two players of contrasting styles: Tiafoe's aggressive two-handed backhand from the baseline up against Musetti's elegant single-handed variant. Neither man could pull clear, sending the set to a tiebreak – where Tiafoe was dominant, winning it 7:2 in a decisive statement after the parity that had preceded it.
Musetti fights back, Tiafoe holds his nerve
In the second set Tiafoe appeared to be in cruise control at 5:3. But Musetti, who had reached a quarterfinal in Cincinnati for the first time in his career – in five previous appearances he had never advanced beyond the second round – refused to go quietly. The Italian battled back to level at 5:5, a moment that showcased his quality as he continued to celebrate his return to top form after a leg injury that had cost him starts at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Tiafoe, however, stood firm. He won the decisive games to take the set 7:5.
Serving strength the decisive factor
The statistics underline Tiafoe's dominance on serve: he won 83 percent of his service games and took 86 percent of points on his first serve. Musetti saved 63 percent of the break points he faced, yet converted only 50 percent of his own opportunities – Tiafoe, by contrast, converted 38 percent of his break points from considerably more chances. Also striking was the difference in winners: Tiafoe struck 36 to Musetti's 17, though he also gave away more with 38 unforced errors to the Italian's 22.
Next step on the road to the US Open
For Tiafoe, the victory meant more than a routine quarterfinal win. The American, who had undergone surgery on his right hand shortly before the tournament and whose participation in Cincinnati had long been in doubt, once again proved his resilience. On his way to the quarterfinal he had already beaten fourth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets – his fourth top-10 win of the season. Musetti, meanwhile, departed with his head held high: his first quarterfinal in Cincinnati had been a milestone a long time coming.
