Cameron Norrie's challenging Grand Slam summer continued with a first-round exit at the US Open. The 29th seed was defeated by Luca Van Assche with a score of 6-7 (6) 6-2 6-2 6-3. This marks Norrie's third consecutive Grand Slam where he has not progressed past the opening round, having also fallen in the first round at the French Open and Wimbledon.
Norrie, 31, expressed his frustration, stating, "I felt like I lost to myself today." He also woke up to find he had been overtaken as British number one by Arthur Fery.
In brighter news for British tennis, Toby Samuel secured his first-ever Grand Slam main-draw victory. The 23-year-old, who came through qualifying, beat Tomas Mahac 6-2 6-3 6-2. Samuel told BBC Radio 5 Live that the win "means everything to me."
British number one Katie Boulter also advanced, overcoming American wild card Carol Young Suh Lee 6-4 3-6 6-0. Boulter, 30, acknowledged the tough match, saying, "I expected a battle in the first round." She could face this year’s Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Muchova in the second round.
Meanwhile, British number four Jacob Fearnley's match against Martin Landaluce was suspended due to rain with Fearnley a break down in the first set.