1768. Merge Strings Alternately

class Solution:
    def mergeAlternately(self, word1: str, word2: str) -> str:
        len1 = len(word1)
        len2 = len(word2)
        merged = ''

        for i in range(max(len1, len2)):

            if i < len1:
                merged += word1[i]
            if i < len2:
                merged += word2[i]
    
        return merged