Britain’s rising tennis talent Toby Samuel has made a remarkable leap in a short period, soaring from a world ranking of 1,871 at the start of 2025 to securing a place in the second round of the US Open. After battling through the qualifying rounds, Samuel earned his first‑round main‑draw appearance at Flushing Meadows and stunned former world No.
20 Tomas Machac in just 92 minutes, advancing with a decisive victory that propelled him into the tournament’s next stage. The 23‑year‑old, who has earned the nickname “Winchester Rifle” because of his thunderous serve, unleashed serves that touched 135 mph, overwhelming the Czech opponent and showcasing the power that has become his trademark.
The win not only lifted Samuel into the top 100 of the ATP rankings but also awarded him a payday of £140,000 – the largest single‑event earnings of his professional career to date. Samuel’s journey is a textbook example of a meteoric rise. In January 2025 he was listed at No.
1,871, a position that would have seemed insurmountable for most players. Since then, the former University of South Carolina graduate has captured five ATP Challenger titles and reached his inaugural ATP Tour semi‑final at the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June. Reflecting on his progress, Samuel admitted, “It feels a bit surreal.
When I was at that ranking I never imagined I’d be playing at this level this year.” He continued, “I originally thought I’d be stuck playing Challenger events, but I’ve managed to keep my form for the past year and haven’t looked back. I’m just thrilled to be where I am now.” Samuel’s confidence stems from his college days, where he was a top player for several seasons. An injury that dropped him to the lower rungs of the rankings forced him to rebuild, but he always believed his game was good enough to compete at a higher level. “I always believed in myself and now it’s paying off.
I’m here now,” he said. The path from the bottom of the tour to the bright lights of a Grand Slam is rarely smooth. Samuel recalled his first ATP ranking point, earned at a modest Futures tournament in Guatemala in 2021.
In a grueling three‑set match against Chile’s Michel Vernier, he survived five match points and clinched the win 13‑11 in the final set, pocketing a modest $258 in prize money. “It was 10 p.m., I was exhausted, and I told my mum, ‘I want to fly home, I’ve got one point,’” he recalled. Those early hardships, he believes, forged the mental toughness required to compete on tennis’s biggest stages.
While his natural power is an obvious asset, Samuel is keenly aware that power alone does not win matches. He explained, “You have to be able to control that power. If you’re missing a lot of shots, the advantage disappears.” Over the past year, he has focused on becoming a more complete competitor, adding consistency, tactical variety, and a sharper slice to his repertoire.
“I’ve been working on my slice and my hand skills, which I think is the next step to reach the next level,” he noted. In the second round, Samuel will meet 18th seed Jiri Lehecka, a player who recently dispatched 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 emphasized the need to disrupt Lehecka’s rhythm, saying, “I have to try to stop him from playing his game. It will be a good test of where I stand against the elite.” Former British No. 1 Tim Henman praised Samuel’s rapid ascent, commenting to Sky Sports, “When you look at how he played in qualifying and then stepped into a Grand Slam first round, beating a quality player like Tomas Machac while dropping only seven games, that’s a huge achievement. It’s a massive set of points and prize money that he can reinvest in his tennis and his team.
Why stop now? I hope he keeps going.” Henman added, “He’s really worked his way up the rankings, and Grand Slams offer the chance to win big. He’s definitely moving in the right direction.” Samuel’s story underscores the unpredictable nature of professional tennis, where a player can rise from the depths of the rankings to compete on the world’s biggest stages within a single season. His blend of raw power, disciplined improvement, and unshakable self‑belief serves as an inspiration to lower‑ranked players dreaming of similar breakthroughs.
The US Open continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting August 30, with streaming options available on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Fans can also look forward to the upcoming Laver Cup at The O2 in London, scheduled for 25‑27 September, which will also be shown on Sky Sports.