Daniel Merida capped a dream week at the Plava Laguna Croatia Open Umag on Saturday. The 21-year-old became the third-youngest Umag champion this decade, behind Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Merida overcame Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 in the ATP 250 final, during which the Spaniard produced ferocious ballstriking from the baseline and needed to fight off late-match nerves to clinch the trophy.

Competing this week in just his seventh tour-level event, Merida took the scenic route after cruising through the opening set in 28 minutes. The Spaniard served for the title at 5-4 in the second set, but Dzumhur created a 0/40 lead and eventually tallied three consecutive games to force a decider. Merida rebounded and secured the win after one hour and 59 minutes.

“It was a crazy match,” said Merida in his on-court interview. “He [Damir] started playing so good in the second set. I was trying my best — the conditions were getting slower and slower, so it was tough for me, but I’m super happy with my level this week and for my first title.”

A finalist in Bucharest this year, Merida went one step further to mark another milestone in his breakthrough season. The Madrid native is up to No. 58 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, setting him up for a new career high Monday.

Merida is the eighth first-time champion on the ATP Tour this season. Merida’s countryman Alcaraz won his maiden tour-level title as an 18-year-old in Umag in 2021. The following year, Sinner ousted Alcaraz in the Umag final.

“Two of the best guys in the world, so it’s amazing to be in this group of players," Merida said when asked about his place in Umag history. "Of course they are far away, but I will keep working to try and get as close as possible to them.”

The 34-year-old Dzumhur was seeking his fourth ATP Tour crown and first since 2018. Dzumhur endured a marathon week which included a three-hour, 42-minute quarter-final win against Matteo Arnaldi followed by a two-hour, 44-minute semi-final victory against Alex Molcan.