In the second round of the men's singles qualifying at the 2026 US Open on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, Toby Samuel got the better of fellow Brit Billy Harris. After a sluggish start, Samuel turned the match around impressively, winning 4-6, 6-1, 6-4. As the seventh seed in qualifying, he reaffirmed his status as one of the favourites for a spot in the main draw.
Harris starts strong – Samuel finds his rhythm
Harris controlled proceedings in the opening set. He capitalised on Samuel's inaccuracies, converted his break points and claimed the set 6-4. Harris, who competes for the Isle of Man and entered qualifying ranked 167th in the world, served solidly throughout and left his opponent little room to settle into his game. Samuel looked out of sorts early on, racking up 43 unforced errors across the entire match – many of them coming in those opening stages.
The second set brought a complete turnaround. Samuel, who can generate enormous pressure from the baseline with his two-handed backhand and his 1.91-metre frame, finally hit his stride. He dominated on serve – firing eight aces in the match compared to just one from Harris – and converted his break points with far greater efficiency. The result was a commanding display: a 6-1 bagel for Samuel, who swept through the second set without resistance.
Deciding set goes Samuel's way
The third and deciding set produced a more evenly contested battle. Harris saved 57 per cent of the break points he faced, but Samuel remained relentless. The young Englishman, who had already reached his first ATP semifinal at the Lexus Eastbourne Open earlier this year, showed the composure needed when it mattered most. He created the crucial break opportunities, converting 43 per cent of them, and never relinquished his grip on the set. The 6-4 scoreline ultimately secured his place in the next round of qualifying.
The statistics reflected Samuel's superiority across the match: he won 54 per cent of all points, held serve in 71 per cent of his service games, and posted a strong 48 per cent of points won on second serve. Harris, by contrast, won just 41 per cent of all games and committed seven double faults – the same number as Samuel, but to far more damaging effect on his own serve.
Samuel on the rise
With this victory, Toby Samuel keeps his hopes of reaching the 2026 US Open main draw very much alive. The 23-year-old, coached by Josh Goffi, is part of a group of British talents who entered qualifying together in New York – among them Jacob Fearnley and Jack Pinnington Jones. Samuel's climb towards the top of the game continues to gather pace. Billy Harris, whose career-high ranking stands at 101, meanwhile exits qualifying.
