\n<\/p>\n
There is another benefit to Samuel – he can afford his own hotel room at Roland Garros, instead of bunking up with his coach.<\/p>\n
“That is probably the secret of why I’ve done well,” Samuel joked.<\/p>\n
The numbers behind Samuel’s rise are incredible:<\/p>\n
Since the end of 2024, he has risen 1,786 places to 159 in the current rankings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
In the past year he has won 67 of his 80 matches<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Reaching the Roland Garros main draw means he has boosted his career prize money total by 63.5% this week <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
Samuel is guaranteed to receive at least \u00a375,200 as a reward for his efforts, even if he loses his first-round match when the tournament begins on Sunday.<\/p>\n
After overcoming former world number seven David Goffin on Wednesday, Samuel battled back from a set down against Peru’s Gonzalo Bueno to win 5-7 6-1 6-3 in Paris.<\/p>\n
The Briton’s instinctive reaction to winning was to place his hands on his head in disbelief as he attempted to process his achievement.<\/p>\n
It was a second memorable comeback in as many days, with Samuel having beat Goffin 5-7 6-3 6-3 after toppling American Martin Damm Jr – world number 112 and seeded seventh in qualifying – in the first round.<\/p>\n
Now, he must now prepare for the biggest match of his career after overcoming the 185th-ranked Bueno.<\/p>\n
Samuel, who reached the Wimbledon boys’ doubles semi-finals in 2019 alongside fellow Briton Arthur Fery, has never contested a singles match on the ATP Tour – never mind at a Grand Slam.<\/p>\n
He will now eagerly wait to find out who his French Open first-round opponent when the qualifiers are placed into the draw on Friday.<\/p>\n
He could yet be joined by Britain’s world number 237 Felix Gill, who will also bid for a first major singles appearance when he takes on 147th-ranked Frenchman Kyrian Jacquet on Friday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n