The next level up?

Yes, but for whom? ;)

R1 was calm for the Spaniard, whereas Rublo had to save a match point. Admittedly, not the same level of opponent. Is Merida one of those troublesome profiles for the Russian?

If only because of his average level, I already feel like saying yes.

Then, he’s a player capable of playing faster and harder than Rublo, which can unsettle the Russian since he’s less comfortable in a defensive position. And a Rublo under pressure is never a good thing! When he plays against a player who can “outplay” him like that, he can quickly get overwhelmed.

You know the downside of Merida’s game: consistency. At the same time, it’s a good thing he has dips in form, otherwise his name would be Sinner. Rublo could really take advantage of that because, despite his mood swings, he’s always up for a fight.

And then his epic match against Virtanen could well lead him into a very wise performance today, don’t you think?