Merida beats lucky loser Baez on his Paris Masters debut
The 22-year-old Spaniard beat lucky loser Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 on his debut at the event. Tommy Paul or Holger Rune await in the second round.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 | © Alice Jacquesa / Tennis Majors
Spain’s Daniel Merida beat Argentinian lucky loser Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Paris Masters 1000 on Monday, on his debut at the event. Baez replaced Belgium’s Alexander Blockx, who withdrew with an ankle injury. It was their first meeting.
Merida, 22 and ranked No. 42, won his first ATP title in Umag this season. He also reached the Bucharest final, where Mariano Navone beat him 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. He will face 12th seed Tommy Paul or Holger Rune, who play on Tuesday, in the second round.
Rolex Paris Masters 2026 first-round results
Lorenzo Musetti d. Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10)
Luca Van Assche d. Mariano Navone 6-3, 7-5
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Learner Tien (15) (Tuesday)
Novak Djokovic (10) vs Valentin Vacherot (Tuesday)
Rinky Hijikata (Q) d. Luciano Darderi 6-2, 6-2
Andrey Rublev vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Tuesday)
Cameron Norrie d. Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Mattia Bellucci (Q) d. Lorenzo Sonego (Q) 6-4, 6-3
Arthur Rinderknech vs Francisco Cerundolo (16) (Tuesday)
Tommy Paul (12) vs Holger Rune (PR) (Tuesday)
Daniel Merida d. Sebastian Baez (LL) 6-4, 6-2
Quentin Halys vs Arthur Fery (Tuesday)
Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) vs Arthur Gea (WC) (Tuesday)
Casper Ruud d. Juan Manuel Cerundolo (Q) 6-3, 6-2
Rafael Jodar (9) d. Alejandro Tabilo 6-2, 6-3
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (13) vs Moise Kouame (WC) (Tuesday)
Denis Shapovalov vs Karen Khachanov (Monday)
Ignacio Buse d. Zizou Bergs 6-2, 6-4
Kyrian Jacquet (WC) vs Tomas Machac (Q) (Monday)
Alex Molcan (Q) vs Titouan Droguet (WC) (Monday)
Benjamin Bonzi (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11) (Tuesday)
Brandon Nakashima (14) vs Matteo Berrettini (Tuesday)
Ugo Humbert vs Botic van de Zandschulp (Monday)
Alex Michelsen vs Jiri Lehecka (Tuesday)
People in this post
More tennis news
Cobolli withdraws from the Paris Masters, 13 days before the ATP Finals
“At some point, I will do great in this tournament, sooner than later”: in-form Alcaraz still chasing his Paris breakthrough
“Even when the crowd was against me, I was grateful”: Machac beats Jacquet to set up a first meeting with Fils in Paris
Qualifier Bellucci wins all-Italian clash with Sonego for first Paris main-draw win
“I can compete for all four Grand Slams”: Zverev’s first words as World No. 1
