Toby Samuel called being selected for Great Britain's Davis Cup team to compete against Ecuador "one of the best moments in my life," marking a significant milestone in his tennis career. The 23-year-old earned his spot after a strong rise in the world rankings, reaching the top 100 and making his debut in three major Grand Slam tournaments. Samuel will join fellow British players Arthur Fery, Cameron Norrie, Henry Patten, and Lloyd Glasspool in the team, which will face Ecuador at London's Copper Box arena. Samuel learned of his selection while in New York, shortly after competing in the US Open. He received the news via a phone call from Davis Cup captain Leon Smith. During the US Open, Samuel achieved a career highlight by securing his first Grand Slam victory with a win over Tomas Machac, though he was eventually defeated by Jiri Lehecka in the following round. This past year has been full of firsts for Samuel. He qualified for the main draw of the French Open after successfully passing three rounds of qualifying, where he was defeated by world number eight Alex de Minaur in the first round. He also earned a wildcard entry into Wimbledon, where he pushed Czech player Jakub Mensik to a five-set match before ultimately losing. Samuel has acknowledged that competing in top-tier tournaments has been both mentally and physically demanding, particularly adapting to the challenge of five-set matches. He noted significant improvements in his serve and forehand, which have now become his key strengths on the court.