After experiencing the less glamorous side of tennis for years—the small tournaments where every dollar counts—Daniel Mérida is now beginning to discover the other side of the tour: the big stages and the hefty paychecks that come with them. In 2026 alone, the Spaniard has already earned $1.2 million, six times more than his entire career earnings prior to this year.
“Tennis is a sport where, when things are going well, prize money goes up significantly, but I’m not someone who needs material things to be happy,” the Spanish player told CLAY ahead of his Davis Cup debut this weekend against Chile in Santiago.
His main goal for that money is far removed from cars, houses, or any other splurge associated with a young athlete’s success. “A big goal would be to help my parents so they don’t have to work anymore. At the end of the day, they’ve been behind me for many years, supporting me since I was a child,” added the 21-year-old.
In just nine months, Mérida has vaulted from No. 163 in the ATP rankings to his current spot at No. 41. Along the way, he captured his first career title in Umag, reached the final in Bucharest, and made the quarterfinals at the Montreal Masters 1000.
– Where were you and what was the first thing that went through your mind when David Ferrer told you that you were going to play in the Davis Cup?
– I was in Canada, at the Montreal Masters 1000. When he texted me to tell me, it was an incredible feeling. Playing in the Davis Cup has been a dream since I was a kid. It’s a completely different competition compared to the weekly tour events. I felt extreme joy when I found out I was coming here to Chile.
– Did you follow the Davis Cup closely growing up?
– I’ve always followed it a lot. I’ve watched Rafa a thousand times, and I remember watching Carlos’s debut too. I’ve always followed it because it has something special, and the atmosphere is great. Recently, I was lucky enough to go as a sparring partner in Marbella, and that was the first time I experienced a tie in person. The atmosphere was incredible, and I have great memories from those days.
– When a player breaks through like you have in 2026, I imagine many messages and distractions start coming in. How do you protect yourself from that?
– I try to stay calm and always remain humble. I remind myself how much hard work it took to get here, and I try not to overhype things. In the end, it’s been a great year, I’m achieving big things with my team, and I know I should be happy and enjoy it, but I also know I need to stay humble and keep working the way I always have.
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– Now that you’re earning substantial prize money, are you someone who likes to splurge?
– Tennis is a sport where, when things go well, the prize money increases a lot, but I’m not someone who needs many material things to be happy. That money helps me live with more peace of mind; I can do more things with my family, my girlfriend, and my friends without feeling so financially tight. But I’m really not someone who needs material possessions to feel happy and content.
– You often talk about your parents and all the sacrifices they made for you to be here. Have you ever thought about giving them a special gift?
– A major goal of mine would be to help them so they don’t have to work anymore. At the end of the day, they’ve stood by me for many years, supporting me, and I’m already trying to help them however I can. I’ll keep doing that in the coming years, trying to give back for everything they’ve done and invested in me.
– In a sport as individualistic as tennis, the Davis Cup gives you the chance to experience it differently. You’ll be playing for your country. Do you think you’ll feel extra pressure, especially making your debut away in Chile?
– The atmosphere in the Davis Cup is different, but I’ve experienced many “first times” in big stadiums and larger tournaments before, and looking at my results, I think I’ve handled it well and competed effectively under those conditions. So I think it will be the same here. Obviously, there will be nerves, tension, and a lot of pressure, but I know that in those moments I compete well and bring out my best.
– South American crowds push in a very intense way. Has Ferrer given you any advice on how to tune out the noise?
– David has been trying to prepare us mentally these past few weeks for what the weekend will be like, and we’re clear on it. We know playing Chile at home means a tough crowd, but we’re all getting mentally prepared so we’re as ready as possible for the weekend.
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– Ferrer was a fighter like you—a warrior on court with a lot of character. Do you identify with him?
– Yes, there are many aspects where I see similarities, and David was an incredible player. On the court, we share the same drive to fight and even get angry in a constructive way. We’re very similar out there.
– Now that the public is getting to know you, what would you say is your greatest strength and your main area to improve?
– I’d say my greatest strength is how I handle pressure, how I always adapt to new environments, and how I give one hundred percent even when I’m not feeling at my best physically. As for what to improve, mentally I think I have a huge margin for growth heading into the rest of the year and next season. Even though I’ve improved a lot in that area this year, I hope to keep building on it.
– Does being Spanish add extra pressure given the country’s rich tennis history in the Davis Cup?
– Personally, and I think I speak for the team as well, we are all extremely motivated. There’s pressure, obviously there will be pressure this weekend, but above all, there’s huge motivation. We can’t wait for the weekend to start, and I think we’re one hundred percent prepared.
– After these months of breaking through, do you notice anything different in the locker room?
– Naturally, in tennis, respect is earned. As you win matches, people get to know you more, and you do start to notice a shift. But you always have to remain humble and respect everyone else.
– In a sport like tennis that takes up so many hours of your daily life, what does Dani Mérida do when he’s not playing?
– What I try most is to make time for my family and friends, because tennis forces you to spend a lot of time away from home without many days to spend with those closest to you. So whenever I have time off, I try to spend as much of it as possible with family and friends and make up for lost time.
