Frances Tiafoe may be winning on the court, but victories are coming with severe physical pain for the American. The home favorite won a hard-fought match against Lorenzo Musetti to reach the semifinal of the Cincinnati Open, but the American was visibly struggling with cramps during his post-match press conference.

“I didn’t think I was going to play here. I was just getting ready for the Open. F–k, sorry guys. I’m cramping. Sh*t,” said Tiafoe during his post-match press conference. “So yeah, I was doing that and then…and then luckily it turned out pretty well, and obviously I am in the semi. Sh*t”. The American could not stay in any longer, as he rushed out of the press room in the middle of his next answer.

Tiafoe experiencing cramps is not a surprise, as conditions in Cincinnati have been humid. The American played a gruelling match that lasted over two hours against Musetti, even though it was played in straight sets. The first set was very tight, with both players exchanging one break apiece. The set featured long games with multiple deuce points, but at 2-2 in the tiebreak, the home favorite won the next five points to clinch the match.

The second set seemed to go much faster as Tiafoe got the early break, and at 5-4, he had a match point on his serve. Musetti unexpectedly rallied, squaring things up at 5-5 to put the pressure back on his opponent.

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The American had to dig deep yet again to get another break and close the set out at 7-5. He is not only battling tough weather and opponents in Cincinnati, but he also came into this event shortly after a medical procedure. Tiafoe had wrist surgery to remove a cyst prior to the tournament, making his deep run even more surprising.

The turnaround period for Tiafoe was very short, making his semifinal run all the more impressive. Even his opponents have been impressed by his performances after surgery, which was seen in a brief net exchange between Tiafoe and Learner Tien earlier in the tournament. Tiafoe was asked about his next opponent during the presser, but he could not offer an opinion as the cramps set in.

The American will meet his compatriot, Brandon Nakashima, in the upcoming semifinal. More than the opponent, the match will be significant for Tiafoe given who will be sitting in Nakashima’s coaching box.

Frances Tiafoe to Go Up Against His Former Coach in the Semifinal in Cincinnati

While Tiafoe and Nakashima battle it out on court, the presence of Wayne Ferriera in Nakashima’s box will add a bit of drama in the contest. The former ATP Pro has started coaching Nakashima this year, but was part of Tiafoe’s team till 2023.

Under Ferreira, Tiafoe realized his true potential, as the veteran South African pushed the American to alter his diet and training methods and helped him make tactical changes. The American reached five Tour-level finals under Ferreira, winning two titles in 2023. However, the biggest accomplishment of that partnership came at the 2022 US Open, where Tiafoe reached the semifinal, a run that included a victory over Rafael Nadal.

Ferreira has not lost his touch, as Nakashima has been one of the best players on the Tour since teaming up with him. His recent hard-court form has been excellent with a semifinal run in Washington and a runner-up finish in Montreal. The American has already picked up victories against the likes of Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz in his Cincinnati run.

Tiafoe has won a title this year as well, at Halle, and finished as runner-up at Acapulco. The American is a former runner-up in Cincinnati, losing to Jannik Sinner in the 2024 final. The match against Nakashima could potentially be a thriller, but it remains to be seen if Tiafoe can recover physically in time.