CINCINNATI, AUG 21 (IANS): Arthur Fils continued his impressive 2026 season by storming into his third ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of the year at the Cincinnati Open. The 22-year-old Frenchman defeated Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 6-3, 6-2 in just 64 minutes, becoming the first Frenchman since Guy Forget in 1991 to reach three Masters 1000 semi-finals in a single season.
Fils, who returned in February after an eight-month injury layoff, has compiled a 30-10 record this year, highlighted by a title in Barcelona and semi-final runs in Miami and Madrid. His consistency has put him in contention for a debut at the ATP Finals. Since adding former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic to his coaching team, Fils has reached the quarterfinals or better in eight of 13 events, mostly at the 500 or 1000 level. Against Tirante, he broke decisively at 4-3 in the first set and dominated with powerful forehands, never facing a break point.
Fils will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, who rallied past home favourite Tommy Paul 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his first Masters 1000 semi-final.
Cobolli, runner-up at Roland Garros earlier this year, became only the second Italian man to reach the last four in Cincinnati after Jannik Sinner in 2024 and 2025. His victory also guarantees him a career-high ATP ranking, climbing to No. 6 in the live standings.
The Fils-Cobolli clash ensures a third first-time Masters 1000 finalist this season, following Jiri Lehecka in Miami and Brandon Nakashima in Montreal.
On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek advanced to the semi-finals after Elena Rybakina retired with a left ankle injury. Swiatek was leading 4-1 when Rybakina struggled to push off during her serve and ended the match after a medical evaluation. Rybakina had needed to reach the final to overtake Aryna Sabalenka as World No. 1, but her withdrawal means Sabalenka retains the top spot heading into the US Open.
Swiatek, who won the Toronto title earlier this month, will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals. She is aiming to become only the second woman since 2004 to defend the Cincinnati crown, after Serena Williams achieved the feat in 2014-15. Swiatek leads Pegula 7-5 in their head-to-head, though the American has won four of their hard-court encounters, setting up a compelling clash.
