Britain’s emerging talent Toby Samuel made a memorable debut at the US Open by securing his first Grand Slam victory in dominant fashion, while fellow Briton Katie Boulter also progressed after a hard‑fought three‑set win. In contrast, seasoned British No.
1 Cameron Norrie suffered a disappointing first‑round loss, marking his third early exit from a major this season. Samuel entered the tournament after battling through three qualifying rounds, a path that already demonstrated his resilience and form. In the main draw he faced former world No. 20 Tomas Machac, a Czech player with considerable experience on the ATP tour.
Samuel dismantled Machac with a blistering 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑2 triumph that lasted just ninety minutes. His service game was particularly effective, delivering a high percentage of first serves and using his powerful groundstrokes to dictate play from the baseline. The British youngster’s performance was a clear step above his opponent’s for the majority of the match, as he secured early breaks in both the first and second sets and never looked back. The victory propelled Samuel up the ATP rankings, moving him into the top 100 for the first time in his career.
He will now meet the 18th seed, fellow Czech Jiri Lehecka, in the second round on Wednesday. Samuel, who was ranked 683 in the world just twelve months ago, expressed a mixture of exhaustion and elation after the win. "I’m so tired – but otherwise I’m so happy to have got the job done there," he said. "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." Statistically, Samuel committed virtually no unforced errors and held serve without difficulty until the third set, when he was broken for the first time.
He responded by winning six consecutive games, sealing his maiden Grand Slam win and ending his previous drought at the majors. On the women’s side, Britain’s number one Katie Boulter, aged 30, navigated a challenging opening‑round encounter against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee. Boulter started strongly, taking a set and a break lead, but a series of costly double‑faults allowed Lee to claw back into the match.
Despite the setback, Boulter, bolstered by the support of her husband, Australian professional Alex de Minaur, regained composure on the lively Court Five. She ultimately prevailed 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑0, showcasing a blend of aggressive baseline play and precise serving. Boulter’s next opponent could be formidable; a potential second‑round clash with this year’s Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova looms on the horizon, promising a test of Boulter’s consistency against a top‑tier competitor. Cameron Norrie, who has been displaced as Britain’s No.
1 by Arthur Fery following Fery’s recent run to the Winston‑Salem final, experienced a starkly different outcome. Norrie faced France’s Luca Van Assche and fell 7‑6 (8‑6), 2‑6, 2‑6, 3‑6. The opening set was a tightly contested affair that Norrie edged, but his level dipped early in the second set and he never recovered. Van Assche grew increasingly confident, especially during long baseline rallies, and took control of the match.
Norrie’s frustration was evident as the match progressed. After being broken early in the fourth set, he fought back to level the score at 3‑3 with some impressive shot‑making, but Van Assche held his nerve, broke again, and secured his place in the second round – a historic first‑round victory for the Frenchman at the US Open. Reflecting on his performance, Norrie admitted that nerves had affected his start and that his energy and momentum waned as the match wore on.
"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." The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports each day through September 13, with additional streaming options available via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app.
Fans can also look forward to the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, which will be shown live on Sky Sports as well. Overall, the opening day delivered a mix of breakthrough moments for Britain’s rising stars and a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by established players. Samuel’s meteoric rise, Boulter’s gritty perseverance, and Norrie’s struggle encapsulate the unpredictable drama that defines Grand Slam tennis.