British tennis prospect Toby Samuel celebrated a breakthrough on the opening day of the US Open, clinching his first ever Grand Slam win with a commanding straight‑sets triumph. The 23‑year‑old, who battled through three rounds of qualifying to earn his place in the main draw, dispatched former world No. 20 Tomas Macháč 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑2 in just ninety minutes. Samuel’s performance was a masterclass in serving precision and aggressive baseline play, leaving little doubt that he belongs on the big stage.
Samuel entered the tournament ranked 683 in the world a year ago, a position that underscores the magnitude of his achievement. By overpowering Macháč, he not only advanced to the second round but also secured enough ranking points to break into the ATP top‑100 for the first time.
His next opponent will be the 18th seed, Czech player Jiří Lehečka, who also hails from the Czech Republic, setting up a compelling clash of styles for Wednesday’s match. Reflecting on his victory, Samuel admitted he was exhausted but thrilled: "I'm so tired – but otherwise I'm so happy to have got the job done there." He praised his own consistency, noting that he missed very few shots in the first two sets and recovered quickly after a brief dip early in the third. "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," he said. Statistically, Samuel dominated the encounter.
He secured early breaks in both the first and second sets, establishing a comfortable lead that forced Macháč into a defensive posture. The Brit’s serve remained potent throughout, with only a single break of his own in the third set, after which he rallied to win six consecutive games and seal his maiden Grand Slam win. On the women’s side, fellow Briton Katie Boulter also progressed, overcoming American wildcard Carol Young‑Suh Lee in a three‑set battle.
Boulter, the British No. 1 at 30 years old, appeared to be cruising to a straight‑sets victory, holding a set and a break advantage before a spate of costly double‑faults allowed Lee back into contention. Nevertheless, Boulter steadied herself on the noisy, partisan Court Five, ultimately prevailing 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑0.
Her win was buoyed by the vocal support of her new husband, Australian ATP player Alex de Minaur, who cheered from the stands. Looking ahead, Boulter could face a formidable opponent in the second round: this year’s Wimbledon runner‑up Karolína Muchová. A potential tie against a player of Muchová’s calibre would test Boulter’s resilience and could provide a significant boost to her ranking if she manages an upset.
In contrast, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie suffered a disappointing exit, marking his third consecutive first‑round loss at a Grand Slam this season. Norrie fell 7‑6(8‑6), 2‑6, 2‑6, 3‑6 to France’s rising star Luca Van Assche. The opening set was a tightly contested affair that tipped in Norrie’s favour, but his level slipped early in the second set and he never recovered, allowing Van Assche to dominate the ensuing baseline rallies.
Norrie, who recently lost his British No. 1 ranking to Arthur Fery after a strong run to the Winston‑Salem final, grew increasingly frustrated as the match progressed. He managed to claw back to 3‑3 in the fourth set with a series of impressive shots, but Van Assche’s tenacity prevailed, securing the final break and sealing his own place in the second round – a historic first‑round victory for the Frenchman at Flushing Meadows. After the match, Norrie expressed his disappointment: "It was really tough.
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." The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13, with streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup taking place at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, which will also be shown live on Sky Sports. The tournament’s early rounds have already delivered a mix of breakthrough performances, such as Samuel’s and Boulter’s, alongside the heartbreak of seasoned campaigners like Norrie, underscoring the unpredictable and thrilling nature of Grand Slam tennis.