Match Details
Fixture: (5) Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida
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Date: May 25, 2026
Tournament: French Open 2026
Round: First Round (round of 128)
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Outdoor clay
Venue: Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France
Prize Money: €61,723,000
Live Telecast: USA – TNT, TruTV, HBO Max | UK – TNT Sports, Discovery+ | Canada – TSN+, RDS+
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida preview
Fifth seed Ben Shelton is all set to face off against unseeded Daniel Merida in the first round of the 2026 French Open on Monday, May 25.
Shelton began his 2026 season with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic and followed it up with another quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. The American later captured the Dallas Open title, reached the quarterfinals in Houston, and then lifted the BMW Open trophy. Shelton heads into the French Open after a fourth-round exit at the Hamburg Open.
Meanwhile, Merida has put together a strong campaign on the Challenger circuit this season. He won a title at the Tenerife Challenger and also reached the semifinals of the Tenerife II Challenger. Merida additionally made the final of the Bucharest Open, where he lost to Mariano Navone. Ahead of Roland Garros, the Spaniard competed at a Challenger event in Valencia, where he suffered an opening-round exit.
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida head-to-head
Their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida odds
(Odds will be updated when available)
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida prediction
Shelton plays with explosive intent, building around a huge serve and aggressive forehand to control points quickly. He looks to dictate early, shorten rallies, and keep constant pressure on opponents from the first strike.
Merida brings a more measured baseline game, relying on consistency and point construction rather than outright power. He’s comfortable extending rallies and trying to draw opponents into longer exchanges.
If Shelton is landing his first serve and striking cleanly, he can keep the match on his terms and avoid giving Merida rhythm. But if rallies begin to stretch and the error count rises, Merida has the patience to make things competitive.
The American’s firepower and ability to take time away give him the clear edge, especially if he starts fast and maintains control of the tempo.
Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.
Ben Shelton vs Daniel Merida betting tips
Tip 1: Shelton will win at least one set with a score of 7-5 or better.
Tip 2: The match will have at least 18 games.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh
