Mérida, after reaching its first Masters 1000 quarterfinals: "This is a dream come true"

Dani Mérida does not want to stop dreaming. The Spaniard is making waves at a Masters 1000 in Canada filled with withdrawals and wants to be the big surprise. He started the week by achieving his first victory in this category on hard court and ends it by reaching his first quarterfinals at a Masters 1000 after sweeping Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-1.

Now, his next match will be against Learner Tien, a player as peculiar and tactical as he is inconsistent, whom he has never faced before. But before thinking about the American, the Madrid native spoke at the press conference after his victory about his entry into the ATP Top 40, his relationship with Jódar, and his historic 2026.

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Dani Mérida does not want to be awakened from his dream at the Masters 1000 in Canada

"This is a dream come true. I am feeling really good playing here in Montreal. I am happy with the level I have shown throughout the week and, of course, I am very pleased to be in the quarterfinals here."

Una victoria mas y seguimos a por todas pic.twitter.com/zgw0kpIwMn

— Dani Merida (@Mridatenis1) August 9, 2026

"I think this season has been incredible. I started the year around the 200th spot in the ranking, more or less, and I have climbed a lot. More than in my tennis, the improvement has been mental. I have started to believe much more in myself. The tennis was already there. I had played very well during the last year and at the beginning of this season. I just started to trust myself more."

Is Dani Mérida part of the new generation of tennis players?

"Young players have a lot of hunger. They have come here with 100% motivation, and that is what is happening right now. I think we have amazing young players, but they are very motivated and have a lot of talent. For me, it is always fun. But in Spain, you see people achieving these kinds of results, so that helps motivate me."

Dani Mérida spoke about his relationship with Rafa Jódar

"I have known Rafa since we were about five or six years old. Rafa is an incredible guy off the court, and we are very good friends. Also with Félix Mantilla. All of us are very good friends. Of course, it's great to see them every week and see that they are achieving good results. And, of course, Rafa is a great person off the court and is doing incredible things."

Mérida confesses the aspect he has improved the most in his tennis

"I think the tennis was already there. I started to believe more in myself and also off the court, in this kind of tournament, because last year I wasn't playing like this. So I think it's more about confidence and believing in myself than purely tennis-related issues," concludes a Dani Mérida who continues to stir passions in Canada and aims to make it into his first semifinals of a Masters 1000. Almost nothing.
 

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Mérida, tras entrar sus primeros cuartos de final de Masters 1000: "Esto es un sueño hecho realidad"