GB's Samuel earns first win at a Grand Slam - but 'nervous' Norrie beaten
British qualifier Toby Samuel breaks more new ground with a dominant victory over Tomas Machac on his US Open debut.
Toby Samuel, a British tennis qualifier, achieved a significant milestone by claiming his first-ever Grand Slam win at the US Open. Hailing from Winchester, Samuel made his Grand Slam debut at the French Open and continued his impressive run with a semi-final appearance at Eastbourne, a Wimbledon wildcard entry, and a third Challenger title in Winnipeg.
Despite struggling in his opening qualifying matches, Samuel managed to overcome setbacks and secure a place in the second round of the US Open, where he faced former world number 20 Tomas Machac.
The match concluded in just over 90 minutes, with Samuel triumphing 6-2, 6-3, and 6-2. Reflecting on his achievement, Samuel expressed his excitement, stating, "It means everything to me. It's what I dreamed of as a kid watching these big tournaments." His success comes after overcoming a significant setback two years ago when a bone bruise in his right arm caused him to fall to nearly 2,000 in the world rankings.
Now ranked inside the top 100 in the ATP rankings, Samuel has earned $140,000 in prize money thus far, marking his largest payday to date.
Cameron Norrie, the 29th seed, suffered a tough defeat against Frenchman Luca Van Assche, losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the US Open. Norrie, who fought back from losing serve twice, including being broken in the first game, still struggled to maintain a consistent level of energy and momentum. He admitted to feeling nervous, which affected his overall performance, emphasizing, "I was pretty nervous and it showed in the beginning of the first set. I could never really maintain a good level of energy and momentum."
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