MADRID — In a match defined by tension, controversy, and sheer nerve, Daniel Mérida secured a hard-fought 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(6) victory over Marco Trungelliti in the first round of the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open, saving two match points in the final set tiebreak to advance.
The encounter, played on Court 3 at the Caja Mágica, lasted nearly three hours and became one of the day’s most talked-about matches due to on-court friction between Trungelliti and sections of the crowd. Mérida, ranked 102nd in the world, entered the match as a lucky loser after losing to Trungelliti in the final round of qualifying — a fact that added narrative weight to his triumph.
Trungelliti, the 77th-ranked Argentine, began strongly, breaking Mérida’s serve early in the first set. However, Mérida responded by breaking back, only to relinquish the advantage again before using his serve to seal the opening set 6-4.
The second set belonged entirely to Trungelliti. He won five consecutive games after dropping the first, taking the set 6-1 and forcing a decider. His momentum carried into the third set, where he held a chance to serve for the match at 6-5, 40-15.
But Mérida survived. He turned the score around, forcing a tiebreak after saving two match points. The atmosphere had grown increasingly heated, with Trungelliti repeatedly complaining to the chair umpire and tournament supervisor about fan behavior during his service games.
In the tiebreak, Mérida started with momentum from saving the match points and surged to a 6-2 lead. Trungelliti mounted a comeback, leveling the tiebreak at 6-6, but Mérida held firm to win the final two points and clinch the match 8-6 in the tiebreak.
The victory marks Mérida’s first main-draw win at the Mutua Madrid Open and avenges his qualifying loss to Trungelliti just days earlier. For Trungelliti, the loss extends his wait for a first Masters 1000-level victory.
Following the match, Mérida will face the winner of the upcoming second-round clash between Arthur Fils and Ignacio Buse.
The Mutua Madrid Open, an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event held annually on clay in Spain’s capital, continues through early May. Fans can follow live updates, scores, and match schedules via the ATP Tour’s official website and app.
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