Clay-courter Merida faces hardcourt learning curve in Montreal

Daniel Merida, the 63rd ranked tennis player in the world, overcame the challenge of switching from clay to hardcourt with a convincing 6-3, 6-1 victory over Tallon Griekspoor at the ATP Montreal Masters. This marks Merida's fourth-round triumph and propels him into the Canada quarter-finals, potentially pushing him into the top 50 for the first time.

Prior to this match, Merida had never won a tour-level match on hardcourt, making this a significant milestone in his career. Merida's backhand was particularly effective against the Dutchman, who struggled to keep up with the Spanish player. In the upcoming quarter-final, Merida will face US 12th seed Learner Tien, who in a grueling five-set match earlier in the day, defeated Argentine Thiago Tirante 6-4, 6-4.

Tien praised the challenging humidity of the Montreal conditions, stating that he was pleased with his performance, particularly his good contact and returning skills. Merida expressed his excitement about reaching a hardcourt quarter-final, emphasizing his focus on solid backhand play and maintaining calmness throughout the match.