Britain’s rising star Toby Samuel made a memorable Grand Slam debut at the US Open, securing his first ever main‑draw victory with a commanding straight‑sets win. Meanwhile, fellow Briton Katie Boulter fought her way through a demanding three‑set battle to progress, while veteran Cameron Norrie suffered an early departure, marking his third first‑round loss at a major this season. Samuel entered the tournament after battling through three qualifying rounds, a feat that already demonstrated his resilience and form.
In the first round he faced former world No. 20 Tomas Macháč, a seasoned Czech competitor.
Samuel dominated the encounter, delivering a flawless performance that lasted just ninety minutes. He dispatched Macháč 6‑2, 6‑3, 6‑2, showcasing a powerful serve, precise groundstrokes, and an aggressive baseline game that left his opponent scrambling.
The British teenager’s relentless pressure resulted in early breaks in both the first and second sets, allowing him to build a comfortable lead that he never relinquished. The victory propelled Samuel into the ATP top‑100 for the first time, a remarkable leap from his ranking of 683 a year earlier.
He will now meet the 18th‑seeded Czech Jiri Lehečka in the second round on Wednesday, a match that promises another intriguing clash between two players from the same nation. Reflecting on his triumph, Samuel admitted he was exhausted but thrilled to have delivered when it mattered most. "I'm so tired – but otherwise I'm so happy to have got the job done there," he said. He added, "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’s performance was near‑perfect. He committed virtually no unforced errors and held serve without difficulty until the third set, where he was briefly broken. He responded by winning six consecutive games, sealing his maiden Grand Slam win and ending a long‑standing drought at the majors. On the women’s side, British number one Katie Boulter, aged 30, faced American wildcard Carol‑Young Suh Lee in a contest that tested her resolve.
Boulter started strongly, taking a set and a break lead, but a string of costly double‑faults allowed Lee to claw back into the match. Undeterred, Boulter rallied on the lively, partisan Court Five, buoyed by the cheers of her new husband, Australian player Alex de Minaur, who was in the audience. She ultimately prevailed 6‑4, 3‑6, 6‑0, demonstrating both mental toughness and physical stamina.
Boulter’s next opponent could prove to be a formidable challenge: a potential second‑round meeting with this year’s Wimbledon runner‑up Karolína Muchová. Such a matchup would pit Boulter against a player who has already proven herself on the biggest stages, offering a true test of her abilities. Cameron Norrie, the former British No. 1 who has recently been overtaken in the rankings by Arthur Fery after a strong run to the Winston‑Salem final, endured a disappointing loss to France’s Luca Van Assche.
The match concluded 7‑6 (8‑6), 2‑6, 2‑6, 3‑6 in Van Assche’s favour. After a tightly contested first set that Norrie edged, his level dipped early in the second set, and he never fully recovered. Van Assche’s confidence grew as the baseline rallies lengthened, and he seized control of the match. Norrie expressed frustration after the defeat, saying, "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, which will be staged at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, again shown live on Sky Sports. The tournament’s early rounds have already delivered a mix of breakthrough performances, surprising upsets, and compelling storylines that underscore the depth and unpredictability of modern tennis.