Up-and-coming Davis Cup player Toby Samuel shares the small choice in Bournemouth that led him to leave football and chase tennis fame instead
Toby Samuel is about to make his Davis Cup debut this Saturday, and he shared with SPORTbible why he chose to leave a football career at AFC Bournemouth to take on one of Wimbledon 2026’s biggest tennis matches.
Samuel explained that his position on the football team wasn’t quite right, and his skills fit tennis better. “I wanted to play midfield,” he told SPORTbible. Now 24, he’s following in the footsteps of greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who also switched from football to tennis. SPORTbible caught up with him ahead of his first match for Great Britain in the Davis Cup.
This summer at Wimbledon, Samuel caught attention with a thrilling five-set match against world No.15 Jakub Mensik, narrowly losing in a tense final-set tiebreak. Then, at the US Open, he notched his first Grand Slam singles win, beating ATP world No.75 Tomas Machac in straight sets.
Before those big stages, Samuel earned his spot at Roland Garros by beating former world No.7 David Goffin in qualifying. But his journey to pro tennis was a bit different from many others. As a kid, he had to choose between football and tennis, just like Federer and Nadal once did, even after signing with AFC Bournemouth.
Samuel told SPORTbible, “I was a bit better at tennis than football at the time. Also, they put me in defense in football, but I wanted to play midfield. That small change made me decide to stop football and focus fully on tennis.”
When asked if he hopes to win as many Grand Slams as Federer or Nadal, Samuel laughed and said, “Winning 20+ would be really tough, especially since I’m starting later than some of the greats who already had 10 by my age. But winning even one Slam would be a dream come true.”
Samuel’s rise has been quick and unusual, jumping over 1,000 spots in the ATP rankings in just 18 months. By 2026, after playing in three Grand Slams, he’s now ranked world No.95. This Saturday, he’ll get the chance to represent Great Britain in the Davis Cup against Ecuador’s Andres Andrade.
“The special thing about the Davis Cup is you’re playing for your country and for your teammates. Usually, in tennis, it’s just you out there, and no one else is affected if you lose,” Samuel said. “That pressure is different, but being part of a team brings back memories of playing college tennis in the US with roommates. Sharing wins and losses with a team is something I really enjoy.”
Earlier this year, by beating Goffin in Roland Garros qualifying, Samuel had a connection to Great Britain’s own tennis legend, Sir Andy Murray, who famously beat Goffin on clay to win the Davis Cup in 2015. Samuel admires Murray a lot: “He had a huge impact on me, especially his fighting spirit against top players like Roger, Rafa, and Novak. I try to bring that same determination to my own game.”
Samuel even thinks that if Murray hadn’t faced the greats like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, he might have won around 10 to 15 Grand Slams himself.
Talking about Great Britain’s chances in this year’s Davis Cup, Samuel said, “Although Jack Draper is injured and Cameron Norrie isn’t playing, our team is still one of the best in the world. When everyone’s fit, we’re really strong.”
The team will be led by Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery, whom Samuel has known since they were young. He described Fery’s game as “top-20 level.”
Looking ahead, Samuel hopes to break into the top 50 by 2028 and eventually challenge top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Grand Slams. When asked if a new star will rise to challenge the current leaders on the ATP Tour, Samuel believes it will happen.
“My journey is different from others, but I hope to secure a spot among the top players in the next few years and push the best in the world,” he said.
Samuel is excited for what’s ahead and ready to give his best for Great Britain in the Davis Cup and beyond.