Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev rallies from a set down to defeat rising Spanish star Daniel Merida 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon 2026 third round.
Introduction:
Eighth seed Daniil Medvedev fought through early rhythm struggles to secure his spot in the third round of Wimbledon 2026. Facing an incredibly sharp and fearless Spanish debutant, Daniel Merida, the former US Open champion relied on his signature baseline resilience and a strong serving display to claim a hard-fought 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 victory on Court No. 2.
The 21-year-old Merida, who recently cracked the world’s top 100, threatened to cause a massive tournament upset during the first hour of play. However, Medvedev’s elite Grand Slam experience allowed him to slowly dismantle his younger opponent’s game plan as the match crossed the two-hour mark. See also: Defending Champion Sinner Blasts 22 Aces to Edge Past Nuno Borges
Spanish Underdog Stuns the Eighth Seed Early
The second-round encounter began with an absolute shock for the fans on Court 2. Merida stepped onto the grass with incredible confidence, hitting pristine first serves and taking the ball early with his heavy forehand. The young Spaniard did not make a single unforced error on his own delivery, winning 100% of his first-serve points to completely freeze Medvedev out of the return games.
Medvedev, heavily lacking his usual baseline timing, slipped up on serve once, which was all Merida needed to seal the opening set 3-6. The former world number one looked frustrated with his deep return positioning, but he quickly made tactical adjustments before the second set kicked off.
Experience and Deep Returns Swing the Match
Refusing to let the match slip away, Medvedev raised his first-serve percentage and began finding his depth. The lanky Russian won 78% of his first-serve points in the second set, blasting three crucial aces to take it 6-3 and level the match.
The true turning point arrived in a dramatic, 47-minute third set. Merida continued to fight aggressively from the back of the court, forcing long, exhausting exchanges. However, Medvedev’s persistent deep returns finally cracked the Spaniard’s defense on big points. The eighth seed converted a vital break late in the set to edge it 7-5.
One-Way Traffic for the Russian Maestro
With the scoreboard and momentum firmly in his favor, Medvedev completely dominated the fourth set. His serving output improved set by set, finishing the match with a big unreturned delivery that Merida could only tip into the net.
Across the match, Medvedev won 124 total points to Merida’s 106, saving four out of six break points faced. Having successfully navigated this tricky obstacle, the Russian marches into the Round of 32 with plenty of confidence.
