The semi-final points will be decided in the finals of Acapulco on Thursday, when Flavio Cobolli and Valentin Vacherot – the two highest seeds left – take the court. They face Yibing Wu and Brandon Nakashima, respectively.
(Q) Yibing Wu vs. (5) Flavio Cobolli
Following a four game losing streak, Cobolli is starting to show signs of health. The 20th-ranked Italian advanced to the semifinals in Delray Beach last week and now finds himself in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel spot with straight-set wins over Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez and Dalibor Svrcina.
Next up for Cobolli in Thursday’s quarterfinals is a first-ever meeting with Wu, who has won four matches in Acapulco. World No. 142 from China qualified for the main draw by defeating Juan Pablo Ficovich and Rinky Hijikata in straight sets before defeating Casper Ruud and Sho Shimabukuro in straight sets (three of the four sets in total went to tiebreakers). Talent was never a question for Wu – only life. The 26-year-old seems to be going well at the moment, so a minor upset wouldn’t be surprising.
Choose: Wu in 3
(6) Valentin Vacherot vs. Brandon Nakashima
Vacherot and Nakashima will be facing each other for the first time in eight years on Thursday. Their only previous meeting came at the 2018 hard-court Futures event, with Nakashima winning 7-6 (6), 6-3. Fast forward to 2026 and both guys are in the top 30 on the professional tour. Vacherot comes in at No. 27 in the world on the back of his shock Shanghai title last fall, while Nakashima is just behind at No. 29.
Neither man had much trouble securing a quarterfinal spot this week. Vacherot dropped his opening set to Coleman Wong but folded, after which he eliminated Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-3. Nakashima made quick work of both Elias Ymer (6-3, 6-4) and Patrick Kypson (6-4, 6-4). Through two matches, the 24-year-old American has not been broken once while hitting 16 aces compared to one double. If he can match Vacherot in the serving department, Nakashima’s high court game should make the difference.
Pick: Nakashima at 3
