Frances Tiafoe is back in the final at the 2026 Cincinnati Open, where he’ll take on Arthur Fils on Sunday, August 23. It’s the first time two Black men have made the final in the tournament’s history.
Tiafoe made it all the way to the championship match in Mason, Ohio, in 2024 but lost to Italian superstar Jannik Sinner. The 28-year-old, fresh off taking down fellow American Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, is looking to become the U.S. star to hoist the Rookwood trophy since Andy Roddick in 2006.
It feels pretty damn good,” Tiafoe said of reaching the final. “I’m really happy with it. It’s been a great week and a great weekend, unexpectedly, so I’m super happy.”
GettyU.S. tennis star Frances Tiafoe takes on France’s Arthur Fils in the 2026 Cincinnati Open final.
As taking on France’s Fils, “[It will be] a helluva show,” Tiafoe said. “And hopefully another W with that. He’s a helluva player. Moves great, serves great. He has the shotmaking ability. He’s going to want it, he’s going to be pumped up, and so am I. May the best man win.”
Fans hope to see Tiafoe’s longtime girlfriend, Ayan Broomfield, at the Lindner Family Center on Sunday. However, it’s unclear if she’ll make it back to Cincinnati after hosting a big event in New York City.
Ayan Broomfield Hosted a Girls Brunch in Partnership With Her Aces Program
While Broomfield is a regular at Tiafoe’s matches, she needed to be in Manhattan this weekend, where she hosted a special girls’ brunch. The event was created through her foundation, Ayan’s Aces, and Eos.
One woman commented, “This outfit!!!!” Another person wrote, “You look AMAZING.” A fan added, “We better see your blonde swag in the stands tonight match vibes aren’t the same without you.”
The former NCAA doubles champion founded Ayan’s Aces to bring women of color to tennis tournaments. “My focus was to showcase Black female influencers, fill a room with successful Black women, and use each individual platform to get this message out,” she explained to W Magazine during the 2025 US Open, where she hosted a suite at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
The Toronto-native’s main goal is to “bring Ayan’s Aces to as many tournaments as possible. One of the beautiful things about tennis is that it’s global. I’ve been really focused on getting it done here in the U.S., just because of familiarity and access, but I want women of color all over the world to be able to experience tennis matches.
Ayan Broomfield Shared 2-Word Message After Frances Tiafoe Advanced to the Cincinnati Open Final
GettyFrances Tiafoe of the United States celebrates his win against Brandon Nakashima at the 2026 Cincinnati Open.
While Broomfield couldn’t be in Ohio for the semifinal, she was watching from afar. After Tiafoe’s win over Nakashima, she posted a video of his reaction on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “Yeah Foe!!”
Funnily enough, Fils seemed to know he’d face Tiafoe in the final. After Fils defeated Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, “He see me earlier today after he won he’s like, ‘I’ll see you in the final,'” Tiafoe told reporters. “I was like, ‘I got you champ’. So, we’re excited to do it.”
Frances Tiafoe’s Girlfriend Shines in White Dress Amid Cincinnati Open