Toby Samuel, the 23‑year‑old Briton who battled through three rounds of qualifying, announced his arrival on the biggest stage of tennis with a commanding straight‑sets win on the opening day of the US Open. After a 90‑minute battle, Samuel dismantled former world No.20 Tomas Machac, a seasoned Czech competitor, by a tidy 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑2 scoreline.
The triumph not only marked Samuel's first Grand Slam match victory but also propelled him into the ATP top‑100 for the first time, setting up a second‑round clash with 18th‑seeded compatriot Jiri Lehecka, another Czech hopeful. Samuel, who entered the tournament ranked 683 in the world just twelve months earlier, reflected on his performance with a mixture of exhaustion and elation.
"I’m so tired – but otherwise I’m so happy to have got the job done there," he said in the post‑match interview. "I played a great match – I’m just so thankful to everyone that has supported me to this moment, and hopefully I can carry on into next week. The first two sets I wasn’t missing any balls.
In the third, he came out a bit stronger – I had a little dip in the first few games, but I came out of it quickly. I’m just going to try and do exactly what I did today in the next match." From the first serve, Samuel appeared a cut above Machac.
He broke early in both the first and second sets, establishing a two‑set lead that left little room for his opponent to recover. The Brit’s serve was precise and powerful, while his groundstrokes displayed a blend of depth and spin that kept Machac on the back foot.
Unforced errors were scarce; Samuel committed virtually none, and his defensive play was equally impressive, allowing him to hold serve comfortably until the third set, where a brief lapse saw him lose his own service game. He responded immediately, winning six consecutive games to seal the match and end his Grand Slam maiden‑duck. On the women’s side, British number one Katie Boulter also advanced, overcoming a gritty contest against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee. Boulter, 30, seemed in control after taking the first set 6‑4 and breaking early in the second.
However, a spate of costly double‑faults allowed Lee back into the match, and the momentum shifted. Boulter, buoyed by the presence of her newly‑wed husband, Australian star Alex De Minaur, steadied herself on the lively Court Five, eventually prevailing 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑0. Her decisive third set displayed a surge of power and accuracy, suggesting she could pose a serious threat to any opponent in the next round.
A potential challenge looms in the form of this year’s Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova, who could test Boulter’s resilience and tactical versatility. In stark contrast, Cameron Norrie endured his third consecutive first‑round exit at a Grand Slam this season. The 28‑year‑old Brit fell to France’s rising talent Luca Van Assche, losing 7‑6(8‑6), 2‑6, 2‑6, 3‑6.
The opening set was a tightly contested affair that swung in Norrie's favor after a nerve‑wracking tiebreak. Yet his level dipped dramatically as the match progressed; Van Assche began to dominate the baseline exchanges, exploiting Norrie's waning energy and confidence. Norrie’s frustration grew visible, especially after being broken early in the fourth set.
He managed to rally back to 3‑3 with a series of impressive winners, but Van Assche held firm, breaking again to seal his place in the second round – a historic first‑round victory for the Frenchman at the US Open. Speaking after the loss, Norrie admitted his nerves had sabotaged his performance. "It was really tough," he said.
"I was pretty nervous and it showed in the beginning of the first set, and I did well to steal that first set. But I could never really maintain a good level of energy and momentum, and I'd play well for a little bit and then drop off a couple of games here and there. So that was super frustrating and pretty surprising. I felt like I lost to myself today." Norrie's recent form has seen him overtaken as Britain’s No.1 by Arthur Fery, who impressed with a run to the Winston‑Salem final the previous weekend.
The shift in the British hierarchy underscores the depth of talent emerging from the UK, with Samuel and Boulter now leading the charge at Flushing Meadows. For fans eager to follow the unfolding drama, the US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13.
Viewers can also stream matches without a contract via the NOW platform or the Sky Sports app, ensuring access to all the key moments, including the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, which will also be shown live on Sky Sports.