Toby Samuel achieved a significant milestone in his tennis career, securing his first main-draw victory at a Grand Slam tournament with a commanding performance at the US Open. The 23-year-old British qualifier defeated Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 in just over 90 minutes.
"It means everything to me. It's what I dreamt of as a kid watching these big tournaments," Samuel told BBC Radio 5 Live following his win. "Being able to win my first Grand Slam match is unbelievable."
The victory marks a remarkable comeback for Samuel, who two years ago was ranked outside the top 2,000 after a bone bruising injury in his right arm sidelined him for much of the 2024 season. He has since climbed into the top 100 of the ATP rankings and earned $140,000 (£103,000) in prize money, his largest career payday.
Samuel's path to this point has been a steady ascent. Last year, he won 36 of 39 matches on the ATP Challenger Tour to re-enter the top 300. His 2026 season has seen him qualify for his Grand Slam debut at the French Open, despite having no prior ATP Tour matches. He followed this by reaching the semi-finals at Eastbourne, receiving a wildcard for Wimbledon, and winning a third Challenger title of the year on hard courts in Winnipeg.
This win at the US Open guarantees Samuel a place in the second round and significantly boosts his ranking, likely securing automatic qualification for the Australian Open in January. This would complete his set of Grand Slam appearances, a year after making his top-250 debut.
Another British player, Katie Boulter, also advanced to the second round in New York, overcoming American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-0. However, compatriot Cameron Norrie experienced an early exit from the tournament.