Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe will be facing each other for the ninth time in their careers when they battle for a semifinal spot at the Cincinnati Open on Friday.
The head-to-head series is tied up 4-4 (3-3 on the main tour), with Tiafoe leading 2-1 on hard courts. This isn’t their first rodeo in Cincinnati, as the American cruised 6-3, 6-3 during third-round action at this tournament in 2024. Three of Musetti’s four victories have come come on clay, most recently via a 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 decision at the 2025 French Open.
These positive results in Cincy are just what the doctor ordered for both men — literally the doctor for Tiafoe. The 23rd-ranked American had a procedure on his right hand to remove a cyst less than two weeks, but he has recovered incredibly well. Tiafoe suddenly finds himself in the quarterfinals this fortnight following wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Learner Tien, and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Musetti missed two months — including Roland Garros and Wimbledon — due to a leg injury and his comeback on hard courts was initially slow going. That was in part because of bad draws (he lost to Rafael Jodar early in both Washington, D.C. and Montreal). However, the 15th-ranked Italian has finally gotten back on track with Cincinnati victories over Daniel Altmaier, Michael Zheng, and Jaime Faria.
Of course, Musetti will have to do more than defeat a trio of much lower-ranked opponents to prove that he is back to his best. Tiafoe, on the other hand, took care of a red-hot Tien and then destroyed the second-seeded Auger-Aliassime. On his home turf, Tiafoe should once again have the edge over Musetti.
Pick: Tiafoe in 3
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Big Foe came to play…in 2.
Tiafoe already got broke, his serve is too shaky.
Looking good for Tiafoe now with the first set in the bag and a break up in the second. He’s a fighter and I’m sure the crowd is helping him!