Rising Davis Cup star Toby Samuel reveals tiny Bournemouth decision that made him quit football for tennis stardom

Toby Samuel, set to make his Davis Cup debut on Saturday, has revealed to SPORTbible what made him trade in an early career at AFC Bournemouth to battle in one of Wimbledon 2026’s greatest matches.

Samuel confessed that his position became an issue at Bournemouth, paired with his skillset suiting tennis better. “I wanted to play in midfield,” the soon-to-be Davis Cup debutant told SPORTbible exclusively.

The British talent follows in the footsteps of tennis icons Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who also traded in football beginnings for a Grand Slam-playing tennis career. SPORTbible spoke with the 24-year-old ahead of his debut for Great Britain, at the Davis Cup this Saturday.

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Toby Samuel on Bournemouth beginnings and his Davis Cup debut

Samuel first alerted wider Britain to his potential with a five-set thriller versus world No.15 Jakub Mensik at Wimbledon this summer, losing narrowly in a ten-point, final set tiebreak.

He followed that up in the States with his first Singles Slam win, in straight sets versus ATP #75 Tomas Machac at the US Open.

Prior to those Slams, Samuel bulldozed his way through Roland Garros qualifying, taking out David Goffin, former world No.7, and securing entry to his first-ever Major in Paris. But the Brit’s path to playing Grand Slam tennis differed from that of his fellow ATP professionals.

During Samuel’s youth, he faced the decision between football and tennis, as two 20+-time Major winners in Federer and Nadal once did, after securing a contract with AFC Bournemouth.

The 24-year-old told SPORTbible: “I was a little bit better at tennis than I was at football, at that age. Also, they put me in defence, and I wanted to play midfield.

"I think that’s — obviously, as a kid — that small change was enough for me. [So I] stopped playing football and focused all my attention on tennis,” Samuel confessed.

And as to whether tennis fans can also expect him to win over 20 Grand Slams, as Federer and Nadal did after leaving football behind, the Brit confessed a single tennis Major is his “dream.”

“It would be tough to get 20+ Slams,” laughed Samuel. “Especially because I'm starting later than some of the greats [did] that got 20.

“They already had, like, 10 at my age. But I mean, hopefully… It's obviously everyone's dream to be able to win a Slam in tennis. If that ever happens, I'd be so happy.”

The Brit’s ascent through the ATP Rankings, which Samuel self-described as “unusual,” has seen him rise over 1000 places within 18 months.

Toby Samuel at Wimbledon. (Getty Images)

In 2026, after playing in three Grand Slam Singles events, Samuel is now positioned at world no. 95. His progress is to be rewarded this Saturday, having secured a call-up to Great Britain’s Davis Cup team.

The 24-year-old, who confessed that reaching the top-50 is his primary goal for 2027, will first represent Great Britain against Ecuador’s Andres Andrade, at 1pm BST on Saturday.

“The special thing with the Davis Cup is that you’re playing for your country. For other people. In tennis, you’re [usually] just playing for yourself — no one else is affected if you lose,” said Samuel.

“Obviously, that comes with pressure; there’s no one to help you at that moment. You’re on your own. The Davis Cup is a nice change-up from that.

“To be able to share the energy with your team is something that I've always loved. I did four years at university in America, living [and playing tennis] with eight other guys in dorm rooms.

“It sort of brings back those memories of sharing all that excitement and joy when we win, and sharing the loss with them. Being part of a team is definitely special,” said the 24-year-old.

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Toby Samuel on Sir Andy Murray, the ‘Big Three’ and 2027

By prevailing against Goffin in Roland Garros qualifying earlier this year, Samuel’s career had a momentary cross-over with that of Sir Andy Murray.

In 2015, the three-time Slam champion beat Goffin, also on clay-court, to win the Davis Cup for Great Britain. At match point, Murray produced a breathtaking lob, which Samuel recalled watching.

On the impact of the Scotsman’s tennis on his career, Samuel was clear: “Huge, huge impact. Seeing him battle against Roger, Rafa, Novak [Djokovic] when no one else could really get close to them.

“He was a guy that pushed them to their limits, even when he was beaten. He's an unbelievable player, but it was his fight and his determination that was the biggest thing for me.

“I try to compete as well as he can, and emulate him in my own game. If he can do it for British tennis… There's a lot of players that I grew up watching [Murray] with that became inspired, who were able to get to the top of their game [because of him].”

Andy Murray won the Davis Cup in 2015. (Getty Images)

Samuel then predicted that in a world without Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, the Scotsman would have secured “at least 10” Grand Slam titles, and as many as 15.

On whether Great Britain can win the Davis Cup this year, as they did under Murray’s leadership back in 2015, the 24-year-old described their line-up, when healthy, as “one of the best in the world.”

“Jack Draper is still out with injury, Cameron [Norrie] isn’t playing. If we can win this with this team, when those guys come back fully fit… We have one of the best teams in the world, for sure. That's the exciting thing,” said the Brit.

Great Britain will be led by Wimbledon semi-finalist Arthur Fery, who Samuel has played with since the pair were young. He described Fery’s tennis in 2026 to SPORTbible as “top-20 level.”

On what Britain, and the wider tennis world, can expect from him going forward, Samuel confessed that he aims to reach the top-50 by, at maximum, 2028.

In a more distant future, the Brit hopes he will be able to break into the top-10, and challenge the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at Grand Slam events.

When asked whether the ATP Tour will see a third talent emerge and break Sinner and Alcaraz’s grip on the Slams, as Djokovic once did with Federer and Nadal, the 24-year-old stated it is his belief.

“I think there will be a guy in the next few years that gets to the top and pushes them. For me, my journey is different than everybody else's,” claimed Samuel.

“Hopefully in the next few years, I can solidify myself in the Grand Slams, and in the top bracket of players. In the future, the goal is to be in the top-10, and to push the best guys in the world.”

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