Eight games, and that was the lot
Tomas Machac never got going. Toby Samuel took the first set 6-2, the second 6-3, the third 6-2, and the Czech walked off Flushing Meadows on the opening day of the US Open having won eight games in the entire match.
The British player had no business dictating that on paper. He did it anyway, and he did it from the first game onwards.
Machac arrived in New York already short of rhythm. He went out early at Winston-Salem the week before, beaten by Rottgering in a result nobody had pencilled in either. Two tournaments, two exits, and on Sunday not a single set won.
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Day one at Flushing Meadows
The 2026 main draw opened Sunday with the day session starting at 11 a.m. Eastern. Jessica Pegula and Daniil Medvedev were the headline acts on Arthur Ashe, both through in straight sets. Novak Djokovic and 46-year-old wild card Venus Williams were held back for the night session.
Samuel’s reward for the win is $190,000 for reaching the second round, up from the $140,000 guaranteed to every first-round loser. The tournament is paying a record $108 million this year, twenty percent more than in 2025, with $5.5 million and 2,000 ranking points waiting for each singles champion.
A draw already missing its world number one
Jannik Sinner withdrew on August 21 with a right knee injury, the first major he has missed since his debut at this tournament in 2019. Alexander Zverev inherited the top seeding. Carlos Alcaraz defends the title from the No. 2 slot and does not start until Monday against Roman Safiullin, his first singles match since April after a right wrist problem.
One 2026 title has already been handed out. Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik took the mixed doubles during Fan Week on August 26, beating Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 1-6, [10-6] to split $1 million.
The first round runs through Tuesday, September 1. Samuel will not know his next opponent until that quarter of the draw clears.
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