UMAG/WASHINGTON, July 18, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
For the first time in tournament history – stretching across 36 editions – there were no seeded players remaining by the semifinal round of the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag. Guess what? It didn’t matter.
Friday’s last-four play in the ATP 250-series clay-court event at Goran Ivanisevic Stadium produced a history-making result in the first semifinal, after 21-year-old Daniel Merida of Spain became the third-youngest Umag finalist this decade. Later, in the second semifinal, it added more history as 34-year-old Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina became the fifth-oldest Umag finalist.
With his 6-4, 6-2 victory over No. 67 Roman Andres Burruchaga of Argentina to advance to his second ATP Tour final, the 82nd-ranked Merida joined Carlos Alcaraz (18 years 2 months in 2021 and 19 years 2 months in 2022) and Jannik Sinner (20 years 10 months) in the Croatia Open record book. Add to it, Merida, who earlier this week upset No. 3 seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina in the second round, hasn’t dropped a set this week.
Merida in dreamland 💥
Daniel Merida is into his second career ATP final in Umag, overcoming Burrachaga in straight sets 👏#CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/Fh4Nak3IvI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 17, 2026
Against Burruchaga, Merida won 71 percent (25 of 35) of his first-serve points, saved three of four break points he faced and outpointed his opponent 65-46 during their one-hour, 21-minute semifinal.
Following his last-four triumph, Merida said of his Umag experience: “I’m feeling really good all week. I think I am playing my best tennis, so I am super happy with the performance here and I hope to give my 100 percent in the final.”
2 finals in 7 ATP Tour tournaments for Daniel Merida 🇪🇸
Clinical.#CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/eD3oLlGnHH
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 17, 2026
Regarding his making history as the third-youngest Umag finalist this decade, Merida said: “Alcaraz and Sinner are two big names, so I am super happy to be in that group of players.”
After reaching his first tour-level final in Bucharest earlier this season, Merida went on to reach the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid and was a finalist at the ATP Challenger Tour event in Perugia.
Now, in just his seventh ATP Tour-level event, Merida will have a chance at winning his first title when he faces the 108th-ranked Dzumhur in the Umag final Saturday evening (7 p.m. local time). It will be their first meeting.
In Friday’s second semifinal, Dzumhur defeated No. 101 Alex Molcan of Slovakia, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in two hours and 44 minutes.
Dzumhur converted four of 13 break points and outpointed Molcan 99-92 to reach his fifth ATP Tour final – and to become the fifth oldest finalist in tournament history.
8 years later 🥹
Damir Dzumhur is into an ATP tour-level final for the first time in 8 years after defeating Molcan in Umag #CroatiaOpenUmag pic.twitter.com/t0rprhz0lQ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) July 17, 2026
Czech duo Pavlasek and Riki win Umag doubles title
Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl have won their first ATP Tour title as a team. On Friday, the Czech duo defeated David Stevenson and Marcus Willis of Great Britain, 6-3, 4-6, 10-6, in one hour and 27 minutes in the title match on Goran Ivanisevic Stadium.
The victory improved their win-loss record this season to 19-8. Earlier this year, Pavlasek, 31, and Rikl, 27, reached the final in Bucharest in their debut. They’ve also been semifinalists this season at Barcelona, Geneva, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Mallorca.
The Umag title victory is the first at tour-level for Pavlasek and third for Rikl, who last year won titles with Petr Nouza at Marrakech and Kitzbuhel.
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By the numbers
By advancing to his fifth ATP Tour final, it’s the first one on clay for Damir Dzumhur – and it comes eight years and 27 days after reach his most recent final at Antalya in 2018, which is the second-longest gap between ATP Tour finals since 2000.
“Quotable …”
“I am 34 years old but never played a final on clay, and it is the surface where I grew up playing. I was expecting it earlier, but it is a nice feeling. I’m out of words after yesterday’s match. … But I recovered well, and as the match went on, I got better and better.”
– Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia-Herzegovina, during his on-court interview, after advancing to his first ATP Tour-level final on clay.
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