Spanish player Daniel Merida won his maiden ATP Tour title at the Umag tournament last weekend. The 21-year-old defeated Damir Dzumhur in the final after years of financial hardship.
Merida beat the Bosnian veteran 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in the final. He converted seven of twelve break points in a match that lasted nearly two hours.
The world No. 59 began the year ranked No. 163. He has now climbed into the top 60 and earned direct entry to the US Open.
Merida said he traveled alone for years and could not afford a coach. “I was playing Futures tournaments, the lowest level of tennis, for two years, and I did it all on my own,” he told Clay Tennis.
His girlfriend Luana joined him for the victory celebration. At 21 years and 10 months, Merida became the third-youngest champion in the tournament’s history behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.