Merida Open Akron 2026: Results, Schedule, Entry List, Draw and Predictions
WTAMonday, 02 March 2026 at 11:26
The Merida Open Akron will take place between 23 February - 1 March at the Yucatan Country Club in Merida in Mexico and is a WTA 500 tournament on the calendar.
Emma Navarro is the defending champion and will return this year in a bid to try and retain her title. She is joined by Diana Shnaider, Ann Li, Marie Bouzkova, Jaqueline Cristian, Katie Boulter, Sloane Stephens among others.
It takes place on the same week as ATX Open Austin and is one of the final tournaments prior to Indian Wells and Miami.
Draw/Schedule/Results Merida Open Akron
Final
| Date/Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| Cristina Bucșa | 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 | Magdalena Fręch |
Semifinals
| Date/Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| 01-03 02:10 | Jasmine Paolini | 5-7, 4-6 | Cristina Bucșa |
| 01-03 01:00 | Magdalena Fręch | 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 | Shuai Zhang |
Quarterfinals
| Date/Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| 28-2 01:30 | Jasmine Paolini | 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 | Katie Boulter |
| 27-2 21:30 | Zeynep Sönmez | 3-6, 4-6 | Cristina Bucșa |
| 27-2 20:00 | Magdalena Fręch | 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 | Marie Bouzková |
| 28-2 00:00 | Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva | 1-6, 3-6 | Shuai Zhang |
Second Round
| Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| Jasmine Paolini | 6-0, 6-2 | Priscilla Hon |
| Katie Boulter | 6-3, 0-0, ret. | Camila Osorio |
| Ann Li | 6-3, 6-7, 4-6 | Zeynep Sönmez |
| Cristina Bucșa | 7-6, 6-3 | Marina Stakusic |
| Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro | 0-6, 3-6 | Magdalena Fręch |
| Emiliana Arango | 6-2, 1-6, 0-2, ret. | Marie Bouzková |
| Magda Linette | 7-5, 6-7, 5-7 | Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva |
| Shuai Zhang | 6-4, 6-4 | Emma Navarro |
First Round
| Date/Time | Player 1 | Result | Player 2 |
| Jasmine Paolini | BYE | ||
| Priscilla Hon | 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 | Renata Zarazúa | |
| 24-2 1:00 | Katie Boulter | 6-4, 6-4 | Beatriz Haddad Maia |
| 24-2 21:00 | Camila Osorio | 6-4, 6-3 | Janice Tjen |
| Ann Li | BYE | ||
| Cadence Brace | 2-6, 0-6 | Zeynep Sönmez | |
| 24-2 22:30 | Cristina Bucșa | 6-3, 6-2 | Donna Vekić |
| 23-2 21:00 | Marina Stakusic | 6-4, 6-3 | Dayana Yastremska |
| 24-2 22:30 | Jéssica Bouzas Maneiro | 6-3, 6-1 | Heather Watson |
| Magdalena Fręch | 6-4, 7-6 | Maria Timofeeva | |
| 24-2 2:30 | Emiliana Arango | 7-6, 6-2 | Anastasia Potapova |
| Marie Bouzková | BYE | ||
| 24-2 21:00 | Magda Linette | 7-6, 6-3 | Tatjana Maria |
| 23-2 22:30 | Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva | 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 | Yulia Putintseva |
| Varvara Lepchenko | 2-6, 1-6 | Shuai Zhang | |
| Emma Navarro | BYE |
Entry List Merida Open Akron
(as of TennisForum)
| Pos | Player | Rank |
| 1 | EMMA NAVARRO (USA) | 15 |
| 3 | DIANA SHNAIDER | 22 |
| 4 | PAULA BADOSA (ESP) | 26 |
| 5 | JAQUELINE CRISTIAN (ROU) | 35 |
| 6 | ANN LI (USA) | 38 |
| 7 | JESSICA BOUZAS MANEIRO (ESP) | 40 |
| 8 | TATJANA MARIA (GER) | 42 |
| 10 | MARIE BOUZKOVA (CZE) | 44 |
| 11 | MAGDA LINETTE (POL) | 50 |
| 12 | EMILIANA ARANGO (COL) | 51 |
| 13 | CRISTINA BUCSA (ESP) | 52 |
| 15 | ANASTASIA POTAPOVA (AUT) | 55 |
| 16 | ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO (ITA) | 56 |
| 17 | BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA(BRA) | 61 |
| 18 | Janice Tjen (IND) | |
| 19 | Donna Vekic (CRO) | |
| WC | Katie Boulter (GBR) | |
| WC | Sloane Stephens (GBR) |
Predictions Merida Open Akron
Samuel Gill, Head Editor for TennisUpToDate sees one of a few names sealing the title in Merida.
I see Emma Navarro as a potential champion in Merida, given her form last year, and often Mexican events are an outlier. For instance, Navarro didn't do too much last year but still won this, while Maria Sakkari in the past has been superb in these events.
Sakkari though has withdrawn from the tournament. I see Katie Boulter as being a forerunner after a great past few weeks.
While Diana Shnaider can also be seen as up there after some good form at the start of the season. But it is a pretty hard WTA 500 to guess as there aren't many huge names involved and those who were bigger have withdrawn.
*** Emma Navarro
** Katie Boulter
* Diana Shnaider
Cristhian Avila, Editor for TennisUpToDate.com sees Emma Navarro defending the title.
A draw without many of the big stars opens up a possibility for lower-ranked names to go deep. I place among the contenders defending champion Emma Navarro.
It could be a good chance for names like Paula Badosa and Daria Kasatkina, who, despite having dropped in the ranking,s still retain their status as important names on the Tour. Against less experienced players at the top level, they will have a slight advantage – especially if they manage to advance through a few rounds and find good physical condition during the week.
*** Emma Navarro
** Paula Badosa
• Diana Shnaider, Jaqueline Cristian
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