HSBC Championships 2026: Former junior teammates Arthur Fery & Toby Samuel prepare to meet in first round

Fery and Samuel have been two of the standout British players coming through the ranks this year. Fery got his first Australian Open win against Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli, and Samuel qualified for the main draw at the French Open off the back of two ATP Challenger titles.

Being the same age, Fery and Samuel have grown up together on the junior British tennis circuit and competed against each other as early as their 10U Junior Nationals final.

The two also played together in a run to the Wimbledon boys’ doubles semi-finals in 2019, their best run at a junior Grand Slam event.

Now they get the opportunity to play at the HSBC Championships for the first time – an event that every young British player grows up watching on TV and dreaming of one day playing.

It’s only fitting that the two friends and former teammates would get to play each other in the opening round.

“We know each other really well,” Fery said. “A bit less recently because he was in college and so was I. It’s good to see him doing well, and it’s going to be a good match.

“We played each other in a national final at under 10s, I remember that. We played a lot of doubles together as well. Our mums still speak, we have the same agent, so we know each other well.”

Samuel added, “We’re the same age, we played all the way up from orange ball together all the way up together. We played junior Wimbledon doubles together, made semi-finals there. I know him really well, we’re good friends.

“It’s crazy playing him at Queen’s in an ATP 500 when I’ve known him that long. It’s amazing that we’ve had our own journeys and made it this far together. I’m ready to go out there and give it my best shot.”

Both players have made winning starts to the grass court season already. Samuel reached the quarter-finals of the Lexus Ilkley Open last week, while Fery began the summer with a semi-final run at the Lexus Birmingham Open.

While this is Samuel’s first full grass court swing, Fery has built experience in the last couple of years and believes the surface can really benefit his game.

“It was great to do well in Birmingham and play four matches,” Fery said. “I got a lot of time on the grass, which is important at the start of the summer season.

“I got confidence for sure, I beat some good players, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the grass court season now.

“I feel good, I like the grass. It suits my game style. The ball stays quite low, and it’s quite a fast surface. I think I can use it to my advantage.”

Fery was full of praise for Samuel and the journey he’s been on this season. Since graduating from college, Samuel has won two Challenger titles in Heraklion and has risen into the world’s top 150.

There are only four places between them in the world rankings, with Fery at world No.140 and Samuel No.144.

“It’s been great and it’s been very fast for him,” Fery said. “He’s won a few Challengers this year and qualified for the French this year as well, so he’s playing great. It’s great to see so many Brits doing well, getting through Futures into Challengers and now Slam qualies.

“It’s positive for British tennis. Playing a Brit here is going to be a little weird, but it’s going to be a good match.”

Fery and Samuel will both be playing their first ever main draw match at The Queen’s Club this week, and their first at ATP 500 level.

The winner will move on to play third seed and Roland Garros semi-finalist Jakub Mensik in the third round – with both their eyes on a potential upset.

“It’s an honour to play at this amazing event, and a big thanks to the LTA for giving me this opportunity to play here,” Samuel said. “I’m super excited to get out there and give it my best shot this week.”

“I’m really grateful to be playing the main draw for the first time,” Fery added. “I’m sure a young version of myself would be proud.

“I came here a few times when I was younger, it’s very close to home and it’s going to be great to have the London fans out. I’m looking forward to it.”

Watch live coverage of the HSBC Championships on the BBC, BBC digital services and the Tennis Channel.