MONTREAL/WASHINGTON, August 10, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)
In an ATP Masters 1000 hard-court event that has been characterized by rain and upsets, one of the nice and surprising stories this week at the National Bank Open presented by Rogers in Montreal has been the spirited play by Spain’s Daniel Merida.
On Sunday afternoon, under sunny conditions, the 63rd-ranked Merida ensured himself of breaking into the ATP Top 50 after defeating No. 69 Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-1, in 69 minutes for his 16th tour-level victory of the season.
After ousting World No. 28 Ugo Humbert of France in the second round for the biggest win of his career, the Madrid native is through to his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal – and third ATP Tour last eight overall after quarterfinal runs to the Bucharest final and Umag title earlier this season. He’s strung together his first four hard-court wins at tour level in his career, which includes victories over 209th-ranked Canadian wild card Liam Draxl and No. 42 Alex Michelsen of the United States.
Top 50 & Masters 1000 Top 8 unlcoked 🔓
Merida speeds past Griekspoor 6-3 6-1 for his biggest career win so far!#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/xtkMbRFNHP
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 9, 2026
With Merida’s victory, he’s moved up in the PIF ATP Live Rankings to No. 40. Against Griekspoor, who was no match for the 21-year-old Spaniard, Merida hit 16 winners, made only nine unforced errors and saved both break points he faced. He converted four of eight break-point opportunities against the Dutch No. 1, who committed 25 unforced errors, and outpointed him 61-37.
During his on-court interview with ATP Media, Merida was asked to explain what he’s been able to accomplish this week in Montreal. He said: “It’s been amazing playing here. I’ve been giving it 100 percent every match. I knew I had the level when I won my first title a few weeks ago. I’ve been trying to give it 100 percent each point. I know if I fight until the end of the match, I have an opportunity to make the quarterfinals and maybe even better.”
SUPER DANI 🦸♂️
Merida is now a Masters 1000 quarter-finalist after sweeping past Griekspoor 6-3, 6-1! @OBNmontreal | #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/ZUiEWq58Rf
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 9, 2026
Later, during his post-match news conference after playing on Centre Court at IGA Stadium, Merida called his time in Montreal “a dream come true.
“I’m feeling really great playing here in Montreal. I’m happy with the level during all the week, and of course, so happy to be in the quarterfinals here.”
Tien garners 50th career tour-level hard-court win
Next, Merida will face No. 12 seed Learner Tien of the United States, who eased past No. 65 Thiago Agustin Tirante of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 49 minutes for his 24th victory of the season and 50th tour-level hard-court win of his career.
Tien won on his fifth match point opportunity to advance to his 12th career tour-level quarterfinal – and sixth one this season. It’s his second last eight at ATP Masters 1000 level after Indian Wells earlier this season.
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“Happy with the level I’m playing at,” Tien said during his news conference afterward. “Done a great job of slightly improving, match by match, king of fine-tuning little things as the week has gone on. And match by match I’m feeling a little better, more comfortable, and I’m happy with how I’m playing.”
At age 20, Tien is the youngest American men’s quarterfinalist in Canada since Andy Roddick at age 19 in 2002. En route, he’s secured victories over Tommy Paul, Gaël Monfils and Tirante.
50th hard-court ATP Tour win 🚩
Tien reaches his 2nd Masters 1000 QF after defeating Tirante 6-4 6-4!#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/OMPbQHP1S5
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 9, 2026
Defending champion Shelton takes out Fonseca
Reigning National Bank Open champion and current World No. 10 Ben Shelton of the United States continued his title defense against 27th-ranked Joao Fonseca of Brazil in a featured match on IGA Stadium Sunday evening.
By the end of their one-hour, 48-minute tussle, it was Shelton who won 6-3, 7-6 (3), in one hour and 48 minutes in back of 26 winners to advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. He is yet to drop a set this week in Montreal.
Shelton, 26-7 on North American soil since July last year and with a nine-match winning streak at the National Bank Open, faced the 19-year-old Brazilian, who was fresh off his fourth Top-20 win of the season Friday over World No. 14 Casper Ruud of Norway.
Clinical 🥶
Still yet to drop a set, the defending champ moves through 6-3, 7-6(3).@OBNmontreal | #NBO26 | @BenShelton pic.twitter.com/bxaG0q5yl4
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 10, 2026
However, the 23-year-old American dominated on his serve, winning 78 percent (35 of 45) of his first-serve points to just 58 percent (31 of 53) for Fonseca. Shelton saved three of five break points while breaking Fonseca three times in six opportunities. He outpointed his opponent 83-63 in collecting his 30th victory of the season.
“It was tough out there today and I competed well,” Shelton said during his on-court interview with ATP Media. “It wasn’t easy conditions to play in. I struggled to find my footing on a lot of balls, as did he.
“A lot of it just comes down to grit in a match like this. So, to come through with a win against a really high-quality player like Joao is huge for me.”
Champ marching on in Montreal 👑
A hard-fought 6-3 7-6(3) win vs Fonseca sees Shelton into the quarters!#NBO26 pic.twitter.com/jiWz02ozb4
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 10, 2026
Next, Shelton, who has won three titles on the ATP Tour this season, will face No. 13 seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia, who fired 13 aces and converted three of four break points en route to defeating No. 70 Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands, 6-4, 7-5, in one hour and 29 minutes Sunday evening. Mensik is through to his fourth career ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal – and first one of 2026. He’s 14-0 against players ranked outside the Top 50 on hard courts this season.
Around IGA Stadium
In a pair of round of 16 doubles matches, No. 3 seeds Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador and Mate Pavic of Croatia advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over Czech pair Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Rikl in one hour and 25 minutes on Roger’s Court.
Following, French duo Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti advanced with a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 11-9 win over Yuki Bhambri of India and Michael Venus of New Zealand in two hours and three minutes on Roger’s Court.
Sunday’s National Bank Open results
Monday’s National Bank Open order of play
By the numbers
Arthur Fils is the fourth different Frenchman to reach four-plus Masters 1000 quarterfinals in a single season. He joins Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (2012) 5, Tsonga (2013, 2016) 4, Gaël Monfils (2016) 4, Richard Gasquet (2013) 4.
“Quotable …”
“Confidence, no? I would say before, pretty good and on this surface. That’s why now I pick up a little bit. But I just try to play match by match, tournament by tournament. I like to play a lot. I like to play a lot of tournaments.”
– No. 19 seed Luciano Darderi of Italy, during his post-match interview Saturday, after achieving his 30th victory of the season with his three-set win over Nuno Borges of Portugal.
