Coco Gauff beat Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-2 on Friday and will meet Sara Bejlek, the 20-year-old Czech qualifier who outlasted Madison Keys 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5) after upsetting top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka earlier in the week. Gauff has watched Bejlek since she won a title in Abu Dhabi in February. [1] Jessica Pegula, ranked third, beat Amanda Anisimova on Thursday and faces fifth-ranked Iga Swiatek in Saturday's other women's semifinal. [1]

The men delivered the rarer arithmetic. Frances Tiafoe edged Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (2), 7-5, and Brandon Nakashima outlasted Taylor Fritz 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 — the first time two American men reached the Cincinnati semifinals since Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish in 2010. Nakashima is the first American man to reach the semifinals in Canada and Cincinnati in the same season since Fish in 2011. Italy's Flavio Cobolli plays France's Arthur Fils on the other side, guaranteeing a first-time Masters 1000 champion on Sunday. [1][2]

"It's insane, I think we're all doing so well," Gauff said. "We definitely root for each other." [1]

The story beneath the bracket is depth, not destiny. Nakashima is coached by Wayne Ferreira, who once coached Tiafoe — rivals sharing a coaching tree the week the sport's attention turns to New York, where the US Open opens August 30. [1] Four Americans still standing in Ohio is a depth chart; what happens next is weather.

-- AMARA OKONKWO, Lagos