Toby Samuel, the 23‑year‑old Briton who entered the 2025 US Open as a qualifier, has made a dramatic leap from a world ranking of 1,871 in January to a place in the tournament’s second round. After a swift 1 hour and 32 minutes on the court, he dispatched former world No. 20 Tomas Machac, earning a spot among the last 64 players at Flushing Meadows. Samuel’s powerful serve, often clocked at speeds up to 135 mph, earned him the nickname “Winchester Rifle” and helped him dominate the Czech opponent, propelling him into the top 100 and securing a £140,000 payday – the largest of his career so far.
Samuel’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. In January 2025 he was virtually invisible on the ATP rankings, listed at No. 1,871. Since then, the former University of South Carolina player has captured five ATP Challenger titles and reached his inaugural ATP Tour semi‑final at the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June.
Reflecting on his rapid progress, Samuel described the experience as “surreal.” He recalled that when he was ranked that low, he never imagined he would be competing in Grand Slam main draws within the same year. “I was hoping just to play Challenger events, and then suddenly I’m here, carrying the form I’ve built over the past twelve months,” he said. “I always believed in myself because I was a top college player for several years.
An injury dropped my ranking to the low hundreds, but I knew I had the level to climb back up. It’s taken a year of relentless work, but now I’m finally where I belong – I’m here now.” Samuel’s journey began on the far‑flung circuits of the lower‑tier tennis tour.
He earned his first ATP point at a modest Futures tournament in Guatemala in 2021, where he edged out Chilean Michel Vernier 13‑11 in a grueling third set to pocket a modest $258. “It was 10 p.m., I was exhausted, I had five match points and I called my mum, ‘I want to fly home, I’ve got one point,’” Samuel recalled. Those early hardships, he believes, forged the mental toughness required to compete at the highest level. His game is built around natural power – a thunderous serve and heavy groundstrokes – but Samuel emphasizes that raw strength alone is insufficient.
“You have to control that power,” he explained. “If you’re missing too many shots, the power becomes a liability.” Over the past year, he has focused on becoming a more complete competitor, adding consistency, a reliable slice, and improved hand‑skill to his repertoire. “The last few months I’ve been working on my slice and my touch at the net. Those are the next steps to reach the next level,” he said.
Looking ahead, Samuel will meet the 18th seed Jiri Lehecka, who advanced past Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in four sets. Samuel respects Lehecka’s abilities, describing him as “one of the top guys in the game right now, a big weapon.” He knows the upcoming match will be a true test of his progress against a seasoned top‑tier opponent. Former British No.
1 Tim Henman praised Samuel’s rapid rise, noting the significance of his performance in the first round. “To qualify and then lose only seven games to a quality player like Machac is a huge achievement,” Henman said. “The points and prize money from this run can be reinvested in his development and his team. He’s moving in the right direction, and there’s no reason to stop now.” Samuel’s story underscores the volatile nature of professional tennis, where players can swing from earning a few hundred dollars at a remote Futures event to competing on the sport’s biggest stages within a single season.
His experience highlights the importance of perseverance, self‑belief, and continual improvement. As he prepares for the next round, Samuel remains focused on executing his game plan, managing his powerful serve, and employing the new weapons he has added to his arsenal. The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available via NOW and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London later in September, also shown on Sky Sports.
Samuel’s journey from the depths of the rankings to the bright lights of Flushing Meadows serves as an inspiring reminder that, with dedication and belief, a player can rewrite his own narrative and truly say, “I’m here now.”