Brit ace Toby Samuel, ranked world No1,871 last year, storms into US Open second round as Cam Norrie crashes out

TOBY SAMUEL earned the biggest payday of his career as he marked his US Open debut with a first Grand Slam victory. This breakthrough summer keeps getting better for the Winchester Rifle, who smashed down 135mph serves to blow away Czech Republic player Tomas Machac. Toby Samuel has reached the second round of the US Open Credit: Shutterstock Editorial He beat Tomas Machac in the first round Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Qualifier Samuel, 23, appeared at both this year’s French Open and Wimbledon – he qualified for the main draw in Paris and then got given a wildcard in London. This was a fourth win in a row at Flushing Meadows, following three in qualifying, and by making the second round he has guaranteed himself a whopping £140,000 from the New York trip. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! The Hampshire lad punched the air in delight as he celebrated a 6-2 6-3 6-2 win in 90 minutes on Court 10. With his white cap facing backwards, and a bushy brown goatee, the Southampton fan – who studied at the University of South Carolina – looks right at home in the Big Apple. Thunder-thighed Machac – who wears very tight shorts – is 58th on the ATP list but has been as high as 20th in the world and was the winner of the Adelaide title in January. The Eastern European is certainly no mug – so, this was an impressive win for Samuel, who has broken into the world’s top 100 for the first time. In January 2025, he was 1,871 on the ATP list, and he has really grafted these past 20 months, starting to make a name for himself in British tennis circles. He will now face another Czech Jirí Lehecka, the No.18 seed, in round two.Samuel said: “Pretty tired, but otherwise I’m so happy to have got the job done there. Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS “I played a great match – I’m just so thankful for everyone who’s supported me to this moment, and hopefully I can just carry on this week. “I mean the first two sets, I wasn’t missing any balls, I was feeling amazing, and then at the start of the third, I knew he’d come out a little stronger. “I have to be prepared to fight, and be a bit tougher, but I’m going to do everything I can to get ready. “I had a few of my college mates from Carolina come down here and support, and they brought the energy. “I was so grateful they were able to come down and give me the fight and energy needed to get the job done.” Cameron Norrie’s miserable year continued as he bombed out of the first round, losing 6-7 6-2 6-2 6-3 to Belgian-born Frenchman Luca Van Assche. It is the third time in a row that Norrie – who randomly wore two pairs of socks – has gone out in the first round of a Slam, following his injury withdrawal in Paris and then five-set loss at Wimbledon. In fact, the only racquet competition Norrie, 31, has won this year was the padel contest he staged between pals on his stag do last month in Ibiza. He may wish to lay down the tennis racquets for a bit now before focusing on the two-day Davis Cup tie with Ecuador in London next month. Comment now