US Open 2026: Toby Samuel beats Tomas Machac to clinch first Grand Slam win
• 2 minute read
23-year-old British qualifier Toby Samuel produced an impressive performance against Tomas Machac in the first round of the US Open to secure his first Grand Slam main draw win.
Making his US Open debut, Samuel needed just an hour and 32 minutes to beat the former world No.20 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 to book his place in the second round.
The victory came in Samuel's third Grand Slam main draw appearance. Earlier this year he progressed through qualifying at Roland Garros, before pushing Jakub Mensik to five sets on his Wimbledon debut after receiving a wild card.
He will now go on to face 18th seed Jiri Lehecka in the next round, who beat Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in four sets earlier today.
“I’m pretty tired but I’m so happy to have got the job done there,” Samuel said in his post match interview. “I played a great match, I’m so grateful for everyone who's supported me until this moment. Hopefully I’ll carry on this week.
“I’ll try and do exactly what I did today in the next match. I have to be ready to fight and be a lot tougher but I’m going to do everything I can do to get ready.
“I had a few of my college mates come down here and support. They brought the energy and I was so grateful they were able to come down - they gave me that fight and energy to get the job done today.”
The win now sees Samuel break into the ATP top 100 for the first time in his career - recording a new career high ranking of world No.91 in the live rankings.
Samuel looked to make it third time lucky on the Grand Slam stage and got off to a flying start against Machac - sprinting ahead to a 40-0 lead in the sixth game of the opening set, before securing a second break to edge ahead.
The world No.110 broke early in the second and from then on had the momentum swinging firmly in his favour.
After saving two break points in the sixth game of the third set, the Briton sent a blistering backhand to the corner of the court which Machac sent long to secure a double break lead.
A long forehand from the Czech set Samuel up with his first match point, and a big first serve forced Machac to return into the net, handing the Brit a career-first Grand Slam win at Flushing Meadows.
The win is the latest milestone in a remarkable rise for Samuel, who was ranked outside the world's top 1000 little more than a year ago. Since then, the former University of South Carolina alumn has captured four ATP Challenger titles and reached his first ATP Tour semi-final at the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June.
He will play his second round match against Lehecka on Tuesday 1 September.
