Toby Samuel, the 23‑year‑old Briton who battled through three rounds of qualifying, announced his arrival on the Grand Slam stage with a commanding straight‑sets victory on the opening day of the US Open. After a 90‑minute duel, Samuel dispatched former world No.
20 Tomas Machac 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑2, showcasing a blend of powerful serving and precise groundstrokes that left his opponent scrambling. The win not only earned Samuel his first Grand Slam triumph but also propelled him into the ATP top‑100 for the first time, setting up a second‑round clash with 18th‑seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka. "I'm exhausted, but incredibly happy to have gotten the job done," Samuel said, reflecting on his remarkable turnaround from a ranking of 683 a year ago.
"I played a great match – I’m grateful to everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I hope to keep the momentum 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 small dip early, but I recovered quickly. I’ll try to replicate what I did today in the next match." From the first serve, Samuel appeared a cut above Machac, breaking early in both the opening and second sets and never looking back.
His aggressive baseline play produced barely any unforced errors, and he held serve comfortably until the third set, when a brief lapse allowed Machac a single break. Samuel answered by winning six consecutive games, sealing his maiden Grand Slam win and ending a long wait for a British male to break through at Flushing Meadows.
On the women’s side, Britain’s number one Katie Boulter, 30, also progressed after a hard‑fought three‑set battle against American wildcard Carol Young‑Suh Lee. Boulter started strongly, taking a set and a break lead, but a spate of double‑faults gave Lee a foothold. Undeterred, and buoyed by the cheers of her new husband, Australian player Alex de Minaur, Boulter steadied herself on the lively Court Five. She ultimately prevailed 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑0, demonstrating resilience and a potent forehand that forced errors from her opponent.
Looking ahead, Boulter could face a formidable test in the second round, potentially meeting this year’s Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova. The Czech’s all‑court game and experience on big stages would pose a significant challenge for the British contender, who will need to combine her aggressive baseline play with tactical variety to advance further. Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie suffered a disappointing early exit, marking his third consecutive first‑round loss at a Grand Slam this season.
The 28‑year‑old was beaten 7‑6 (8‑6), 2‑6, 2‑6, 3‑6 by France’s rising star Luca Van Assche. The opening set was a tight affair, with Norrie edging it in a tiebreak, but his level dipped dramatically in the second set.
Van Assche seized the momentum, dominating long baseline exchanges and never allowing Norrie to regain his footing. Norrie, who recently slipped to British No. 1 behind 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 composure held firm, delivering a decisive break to seal his place in the second round – a historic first‑round victory for the Frenchman at the US Open.
"It was really tough," Norrie admitted post‑match. "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." Samuel’s breakthrough, Boulter’s gritty win, and Norrie's stumble encapsulate the unpredictable nature of the tournament’s first day.
British tennis fans have plenty to discuss, from Samuel’s meteoric rise to the potential hurdles Boulter may face against top‑tier opposition, and the lingering question of whether Norrie can rediscover the form that once placed him among the world’s elite. 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, offering fans flexible ways to follow the action. For those interested in broader tennis coverage, the Laver Cup will be staged at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also televised on Sky Sports, promising more high‑quality matches for tennis enthusiasts across the UK.