Fils adapts better than Cobolli to the Cincinnati wind and reaches his first Masters 1000 final
The French player improved as the match went on in a game marked by many errors from the Italian, after a match heavily influenced by gusts of wind, and awaits Nakashima or Tiafoe in the final.
Lots of nerves, many mistakes, and a lot of wind. This is how the first semifinal of the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati unfolded between Arthur Fils and Flavio Cobolli. Both arrived in great form, but the wind changed the plans, and it was the Frenchman who adapted better. He first struggled, then soared to reach his first Masters 1000 final after winning 6-3, 6-4.
Both were fighting for their first Masters 1000 final. And both were aware of the historic opportunity that was presented to them in Cincinnati to open their records in such tournaments. But being so close made them very nervous on the central court of the Ohio tournament.
Arthur Fils reaches his first Masters 1000 final after overcoming Cobolli and the Cincinnati wind
As if that weren't enough, the wind also wanted its share of attention. And amidst the nerves and the weather, mistakes were the trend of the first set. Breaks and counter-breaks followed one after another, resulting in a staggering fact: out of the first 31 points, 23 were unforced errors. Neither player felt comfortable on the court, but it was Fils who calmed down and began to find his game while adapting better to the difficult court conditions.
The opposite was true for Cobolli, who grew frustrated as the set progressed, especially with the break that decided the first set, and he couldn’t stop blaming himself for his mistakes and expressing his dissatisfaction with his team. The Frenchman smelled blood and delivered the decisive blow to take the first set 6-3 in 35 minutes.
Clinical 👌
The @ArthurFils backhand is a 🔒#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/YQEee7Yn0K— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 22, 2026
But Fils didn't want to miss the mental and tennis drop of the Italian. So in the first game of the second set, he broke again, and the path to his first Masters 1000 final began to clear. After such an irregular first set, the Frenchman enjoyed himself on the court, while Cobolli held on with his serve, but could do nothing when returning.
The serve, the forehand, the backhand, everything flowed in Fils' game, much to the dismay of a Cobolli who never found his game throughout the match. Thus, the Frenchman sealed his passage to the final by 6-3, 6-4 and sends a clear warning, not only to his opponent in the Cincinnati final (Nakashima or Tiafoe) but also for the US Open. Arthur Fils, as long as he stays injury-free, is very much back.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Fils se adapta mejor que Cobolli al viento de Cincinnati y se mete en su primera final de Masters 1000