Toby Samuel delivered a stunning upset on the opening day of the US Open, dismantling Czech Republic's Tomas Machac in straight sets. The British player controlled the match from start to finish, posting one of the tournament's early surprises.
Samuel's performance overshadowed what many expected to be a comfortable advance for Machac, who entered as a seeded player with significant momentum this season. Instead, Samuel's aggressive baseline game and consistent serving proved too much to handle.
The result reshapes the draw in Samuel's section. He advances while Machac heads home early, a jarring exit for a player many had penciled in for a deep run in New York.
Cameron Norrie, the other British player in focus, failed to replicate Samuel's success. Norrie lost his opening match, continuing a tough stretch at hard court majors. The loss keeps British representation thin in the men's draw, with Samuel now carrying most of the home nation's hopes in the singles competition.