Qualifier Merida Triumphs Over Adversity, Secures First SF Spot in Bucharest
Navone and Van de Zandschulp also advance at ATP 250
April 03, 2026
ATP 250 Tiriac Open
Daniel Merida showcases resilience, saving match points against Otto Virtanen and Titouan Droguet this week.
By Sam Jacot
Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida is making waves on the ATP Tour, now a semi-finalist after a thrilling quarter-final match against Titouan Droguet at the Tiriac Open presented by UniCredit Bank.
The 21-year-old entered Bucharest seeking his first tour-level victory and now stands just two wins away from clinching the title at this ATP 250 event, following an eventful day on Friday.
Merida commenced the day by defeating World No. 43 Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the second round, overcoming rain delays that disrupted Thursday’s play, before advancing to the semi-finals when Droguet retired during their match.
Merida had the upper hand at 4-6, 7-6(7), 3-1 when the match was paused after he saved three match points in the intense second-set tie-break.
“I feel incredible,” Merida declared in his post-match interview. “It was an incredibly physical battle, and the end of the second set was unbelievable. Saving those match points really turned the match in my favor. I’m thrilled to have won and always fight to the last point.”
Following this victory, Merida has soared 22 spots to No. 114 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is on the brink of achieving a career-best ranking next week. He is set to face Fabian Marozsan, who advanced by defeating Daniel Altmaier 6-2, 7-6(5). Earlier this year, Merida claimed the ATP Challenger title in Tenerife.
In the top half, eighth seed Botic van de Zandschulp overcame Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-3, marking his first tour-level semi-final since falling to Winston-Salem last August. He becomes the second Dutch player to reach this milestone in Bucharest, following Robin Haase in 2014.
Ranked No. 62 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Van de Zandschulp boasts a 6-1 record against players ranked lower than him this year. He will meet World No. 60 Mariano Navone in the semi-finals, who triumphed over Slovakian Alex Molcan 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in a match lasting two hours and 19 minutes. Navone is on the hunt for his first ATP Tour title and is just one win away from reaching his first final since Rio de Janeiro in February 2024.
