# Jodar Loses to Lucky Loser in US Open First‑Round Clash

- Topic: sports
- Source: [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/13580660/us-open-spanish-wonderkid-rafael-jodar-involved-in-testy-exchange-with-journalist-following-shock-exit-at-flushing-meadows)
- Published: 2026-09-03
- Original: https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/13580660/us-open-spanish-wonderkid-rafael-jodar-involved-in-testy-exchange-with-journalist-following-shock-exit-at-flushing-meadows
- Language: en
- Image: https://e1.365dm.com/26/09/1920x1080/skysports-rafael-jodar-tennis_7339448.jpg?20260903010820

## At a glance

- 19‑year‑old Jodar lost 6‑2 6‑1 6‑1 to lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete in the US Open first round
- The match was delayed a day by rain, disrupting Jodar’s rhythm and performance
- Jodar engaged in a heated press‑conference exchange with a journalist after the defeat
- He previously won the Madrid Open over Jesper De Jong and rose from world No 362 to No 13 in one year

## Sources

- [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/13580660/us-open-spanish-wonderkid-rafael-jodar-involved-in-testy-exchange-with-journalist-following-shock-exit-at-flushing-meadows)

## The story

Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar, the 12th seed and 19‑year‑old, was defeated 6‑2 6‑1 6‑1 by Chinese lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete in the first round of the US Open. The match, delayed by a day of rain, saw Jodar struggle to find his rhythm and commit a flurry of unforced errors. After the loss, Jodar engaged in a heated exchange with a journalist at the press conference, raising questions about his reaction to the defeat. Earlier in the season, Jodar had captured the Madrid Open title against Jesper De Jong, a victory that helped him climb from world No 362 to No 13 in a single year. Bu, ranked 124th, secured his maiden Grand Slam main‑draw win on his seventh attempt, describing himself as a “lucky loser.” Jodar has sent several rackets for re‑stringing in an attempt to change his fortunes, but the effort proved futile. The upset highlights the unpredictable nature of Grand Slam tournaments and the pressure on rising stars. Jodar will need to regroup after the setback as he prepares for upcoming events on the ATP Tour.

> Summary by Daily Read Bytes. [Read the original source](https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12040/13580660/us-open-spanish-wonderkid-rafael-jodar-involved-in-testy-exchange-with-journalist-following-shock-exit-at-flushing-meadows)