Tommy Paul gave Daniel Merida almost nothing on Wednesday, the 12th seed from the United States beating the unseeded Spaniard 6-1, 6-1 to reach the round of 16 at the Paris Masters 1000. The match lasted 48 minutes, according to the tournament’s official website. Paul will face Frenchman Quentin Halys, who saved four match points to beat seventh seed Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9) earlier in the day.

Paul, ranked No. 14, opened his week with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Denmark’s Holger Rune in the round of 64, a match that lasted 1 hour 21 minutes. His record at the Rolex Paris Masters now stands at eight wins and five defeats.

The win took the 29-year-old American’s record this season to 48-21. He has reached four finals in 2026 and won one title, in Houston in March, where he beat Roman Andres Burruchaga 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. His most recent final ended in defeat at Queen’s Club in June, when Francisco Cerundolo beat him 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-3. Paul first reached his career-high ranking of No. 9 in February 2025.

Merida had reached the round of 32 by beating Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 in the round of 64.

Rolex Paris Masters 2026 second-round results

Alexander Zverev (1) vs Lorenzo Musetti (Wednesday)
Luca Van Assche d. Learner Tien (15) 7-6 (4), 6-4
Novak Djokovic (10) vs Rinky Hijikata (Q) (Wednesday)
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Alex de Minaur (8) (Wednesday)
Ben Shelton (3) d. Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4
Arthur Rinderknech d. Mattia Bellucci (Q) 6-4, 6-1
Tommy Paul (12) d. Daniel Merida 6-1, 6-1
Quentin Halys d. Frances Tiafoe (7) 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (9)
Thiago Agustin Tirante (LL) vs Jan-Lennard Struff (SE) (Wednesday)
Casper Ruud d. Rafael Jodar (9) 6-3, 6-4
Nuno Borges (LL) vs Karen Khachanov (Wednesday)
Ignacio Buse vs Daniil Medvedev (4) (Wednesday)
Arthur Fils (6) vs Tomas Machac (Q) (Wednesday)
Alex Molcan (Q) vs Taylor Fritz (11) (Wednesday)
Matteo Berrettini vs Ugo Humbert (Wednesday)
Alex Michelsen vs Carlos Alcaraz (2) (Wednesday)