Rafael Jódar suffered a opening-round elimination at the US Open, falling in straight sets to lucky loser Yunchaokete Bu at Flushing Meadows in New York. The 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 defeat marked a sudden halt for the Spanish player in his main-draw debut at the tournament, bringing an abrupt end to a campaign where he entered with high expectations following a North American hard-court summer.
How Yunchaokete Bu Capitalized on a Late Entry in New York
Yunchaokete Bu nearly missed out on the tournament altogether after falling in the final round of qualifying. A late withdrawal by Thanasi Kokkinakis opened a spot in the main draw, granting the world No. 124 a historic opportunity that he seized decisively against Rafael Jódar.
Weather conditions and humidity played a heavy role throughout the match, leaving Jódar visibly exhausted and drenched in sweat. The Spaniard held the lead only after surviving the opening service game of the contest. From that moment onward, Yunchaokete Bu dominated the court, conceding just three more games while breaking Jódar’s serve seven times during a match that lasted under two hours.
Physical Toll and Weather Interruptions at Flushing Meadows
A rain delay in the third set offered a temporary reprieve when Bu held a 4-1 advantage, suspending play and sending both players to the locker rooms for over an hour. When play resumed, any hopes of a dramatic comeback—similar to Rafael Jódar’s famous two-set deficit recovery against Pablo Carreño at Roland Garros—were quickly extinguished. Yunchaokete Bu immediately secured the remaining games required to wrap up the straight-set victory.
The intense schedule leading up to the US Open likely caught up with the young Spanish competitor. Five consecutive weeks of competition without a break across Washington, Montreal, and Cincinnati tested his physical limits ahead of his first appearance on these courts since capturing the junior title two seasons prior.
Mixed Fortunes for the Spanish Contingent in New York
While Rafael Jódar exited early, other Spanish contenders experienced contrasting fortunes during the tournament’s opening rounds. Paula Badosa successfully closed out her delayed match against Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, winning 6-1, 6-4 after overcoming rain interruptions just two points shy of victory on the previous day. Badosa secured the win despite needing six additional match points and saving two break points, advancing to face former champion Coco Gauff in the next round.
Meanwhile, Daniel Mérida pulled off one of the tournament’s major upsets by defeating Andrey Rublev 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. Having never previously won a main-draw match at the venue, Mérida advanced to the third round to face Alex Michelsen. In another contest involving a Spanish player, Jaume Munar exited the tournament after a hard-fought loss to France’s Arthur Rinderknech, falling 7-6(4), 6-2, 7-5.
What Lies Ahead
Yunchaokete Bu advances to the next round of the US Open to continue his unexpected run as a lucky loser, while Rafael Jódar returns to the practice courts to evaluate his physical conditioning following a demanding summer swing.
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