Stefanos Tsitsipas is into the Round of 16 at the ATP Madrid Masters after a straight-sets win over qualifier Daniel Merida, 6-4, 6-2. Playing on the red clay at Arantxa Sanchez Stadium, the Greek controlled the key moments and shut the door whenever Merida threatened.

Scoreline and key numbers

Tsitsipas won 12 games to 6 and finished with a 59–42 edge in total points. He converted three break points while not facing a single break all match on the scoreboard, thanks to saving 4 of 4 chances against him. There were no tiebreaks, just steady, scoreboard-first tennis.

In the first set, Tsitsipas took it 6-4 by winning more service points (22 to 18) and the only break of the set. He repeated the template in set two with a 6-2 score, adding two more breaks and keeping control from the baseline.

Serve sets the tone

This was a serving clinic from Tsitsipas. He hit 3 aces, committed 0 double faults and won 80% of points behind his first serve. Even better, he landed 100% of his second serves across both sets and won 73% of those points.

Merida actually posted a higher first-serve percentage overall, 65% to 58%, but Tsitsipas made his first deliveries count. He held all 9 of his service games and saved every break point he faced. The split tells the story: 24 of 30 won on first-serve points and 16 of 22 on second-serve points.

Return pressure from the Greek

On return, Tsitsipas kept Merida uncomfortable. He won 31% of points returning the first serve and 52% against the second, converting 3 break points across the match. Merida managed 20% and 27% in those same categories and did not break serve.

The second set showed the clearest gap. Tsitsipas won 62% of second-serve return points and broke twice. He also recorded the longest streak of momentum with a run of seven straight games at one stage.

Madrid-born qualifier tested, but Tsitsipas advances

Merida, a Madrid native, came through qualifying and showed flashes, including a six-point run in set two. But Tsitsipas’ clean serving and timely returning proved too steady on clay. The Greek moves on to the Round of 16 at the Madrid Open.

Fans can find the full match stats, the live draw and player form on Sofascore. It’s the easiest way to track ATP Madrid Masters results, point-by-point events and the Sofascore Rating after every match.