Aug 31, 2026
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British qualifier Toby Samuel secured his first main draw Grand Slam win, while Cameron Norrie exited the tournament in the first round.

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ManyPress Editorial

2 min readSource:Guardian Tennis
US Open 2026: British Players in Action on Day One

Key facts

  • Toby Samuel defeated Tomas Mahac 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 to earn his first main draw Grand Slam win.
  • Luca van Assche eliminated 29th seed Cameron Norrie in four sets.
  • Daniil Medvedev reached the second round after a straight-sets win over Gaston.
  • Katie Boulter, ranked world No. 62, faced Carol Young Suh Lee in her opening match.
  • Karolina Pliskova led Hanne Wandewinkel 6-2, 5-7, 3-0 during their match.

The 2026 US Open began with mixed results for British competitors. Qualifier Toby Samuel claimed his first career main draw Grand Slam victory by defeating Tomas Mahac, while 29th seed Cameron Norrie was eliminated by Frenchman Luca van Assche. Elsewhere, Katie Boulter began her opening match against Carol Young Suh Lee, and Daniil Medvedev and Karolina Pliskova continued their respective campaigns.

By the numbers

Toby Samuel's world ranking110
Katie Boulter's world ranking62
Carol Young Suh Lee's world ranking140

Toby Samuel's Breakthrough Win

World No. 110 Toby Samuel achieved a significant milestone by defeating Tomas Mahac to secure his first-ever main draw win at a Grand Slam. Samuel, who previously qualified for the French Open and received a wildcard at Wimbledon earlier this year, won the match in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

Cameron Norrie Eliminated

Cameron Norrie, the 29th seed, was knocked out of the tournament by 22-year-old Luca van Assche. After winning a tight first-set tiebreak, Norrie struggled with unforced errors as Van Assche took control of the match. The Frenchman secured the victory in four sets, marking a breakout moment for him at Flushing Meadows.

Other Notable Matches

Daniil Medvedev advanced to the second round with a straight-sets victory over Gaston, utilizing powerful serving and consistent play. Meanwhile, Katie Boulter began her match against Carol Young Suh Lee, and former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova worked toward a second-round spot in her match against Hanne Wandewinkel.

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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Tennis.

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