Britain’s Toby Samuel has come a great distance from the beginning of 2025 – rising from 1,871 on the planet to the US Open second spherical.
Samuel, who got here by qualifying to make his primary draw debut at Flushing Meadows, wanted simply an hour and 32 minutes to beat the previous world No 20 Tomas Machac and guide his place within the second spherical.
The 23-year-old – dubbed the ‘Winchester Rifle’ because of his highly effective serve – hammered down serves of as much as 135mph to blow his Czech opponent away.
Samuel crushed Machac in straight units to cost into the US Open second spherical
In doing so Samuel moved into the world’s prime 100 whereas incomes £140,000, comfortably the largest pay day of his profession.
The win is the newest milestone in a outstanding rise for Samuel, who was ranked world No 1,871 in January 2025.
Since then, the previous College of South Carolina alumnus has captured 5 ATP Challenger titles and reached his first ATP Tour semi-final on the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June.
“Yeah, it is type of surreal,” he stated. “After I was clearly that rating, I did not even think about I would be enjoying these occasions this yr.
“I used to be kind of hoping to be enjoying Challenger tournaments, after which clearly right here now I’ve managed to hold on that type for the final yr and have not actually regarded again, so I am simply so blissful I will be on this scenario now.
“I at all times had a great quantity of perception as a result of I used to be prime at school for the previous couple of years. I received to 400 after which I used to be injured, in order that’s clearly one of many the explanation why my rating was that low.
“I knew that I had the extent to leap up and play right here, however clearly not this quick.
“I’ve at all times believed in myself and clearly now it is paid off. I am right here now.”
First rating level in Guatemala
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Samuel was thrilled after beating Machac to say his first Grand Slam main-draw victory
Life on the bottom rung of the tennis tour takes gamers to some bizarre and not-so-wonderful locations, and Samuel recalled the place he picked up his very first rating level at a match in Guatemala in 2021 in opposition to Chilean participant Michel Vernier and he gained 13-11 within the third set to pocket $258 in prize cash.
“It was 10pm at night time, I used to be exhausted, I had 5 match factors and I used to be identical to to my mum, ‘I need to fly house, I’ve received one level’.
“It’s important to undergo all of the robust experiences to have the ability to play at this stage ultimately, and people kind of construct who you might be as a personality.”
Concentrating on the following stage
Samuel, who possesses a robust serve and large groundstrokes, says he’s making an attempt to hone his recreation so he can combine it with the easiest.
“I’ve pure energy, which is actually useful with tennis gamers, however having that energy, you have received to have the ability to management it, as a result of in the event you’re lacking loads, it isn’t as efficient as it may be.
“Positively the final yr, I’ve targeted on being a tricky competitor first, after which use these kind of weapons on prime of that.
“I have been making an attempt to discover ways to use some extra expertise on the court docket. The previous couple of months particularly, I have been working my slice and my qualities in hand, which is the following step in my recreation, I feel, to get to the following stage.”
Tough Lehecka subsequent…
Samuel faces a tricky process in opposition to Czech Jiri Lehecka within the second spherical
He goes on to face 18th seed Jiri Lehecka within the subsequent spherical, who beat Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in 4 units.
Samuel added: “He is one of many prime guys within the recreation proper now. He is such a great participant and he is an enormous weapon, so I’ve to actually try to cease him from enjoying his recreation once I play him the following match. It will be a great check to see the place I am at in opposition to these prime guys once more.”
Talking to Sky Sports activities, Tim Henman has been impressed with Samuel’s meteoric rise.
“If you replicate on the best way that is he is performed in qualifying after which coming into a primary spherical at a Grand Slam, in opposition to Tomas Machac, who’s a high quality participant and to solely lose seven video games is a superb achievement. That is one other large set for him. It is an enormous alternative, large factors, monumental prize cash that he can reinvest in his tennis and his workforce so why cease now? Hopefully he can hold going,” stated the previous British No 1.
“He is actually labored his means up within the rankings and with the Grand Slams there’s that probability to win large. He actually is transferring in the fitting route.”
The US Open is dwell on Sky Sports activities from August 30. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports activities App. You can too watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September dwell on Sky Sports activities.