Rain had already interrupted Rafa Jódar’s first US Open appearance, which began poorly. Representing Leganés, the Spanish player dropped the first set 6-2 to Bu Yunchaokete, who quickly took control. Jódar soon found himself down 2-0 in the second set after his opponent broke early.
Unpredictable weather at Flushing Meadows forced organizers to reschedule play and added to the tension. The changing conditions made it harder for Jódar to settle in, while Bu Yunchaokete took his chances and left Jódar searching for solutions on court. Tournament records and tennis.com reported that Jódar was originally set to play Thanasi Kokkinakis, but the Australian withdrew just hours before the match. Le Figaro reported that Bu Yunchaokete entered the basic draw as a lucky loser after losing to Federico Cina in the final round of qualifying.
This US Open comes at a basic point in Jódar’s career. He has climbed the ATP rankings and recently played in the Masters 1,000 in Cincinnati, where he lost in the round of 16 to Flavio Cobolli. His first selection for the Spanish Davis Cup team drew extra attention. Mundo Deportivo notes that Jódar’s summer included a run to the ATP 250 final in Washington and a place in the Montreal semifinals, raising expectations for New York.
Despite the difficult start, Jódar fought for points and tried to stay in the match. Bu Yunchaokete’s aggressive play, coupled with an early break in the second set, made the challenge even steeper. Live updates on Movistar+ and Tennis TV tracked shifts in momentum as the evening went on. Sofascore and 20minutos confirmed that the match was played on Court 17 and repeatedly delayed by rain.
The draw ahead for Jódar is demanding. If he advances, he could face Marozsan, Zheng, Ruud, JM Cerúndolo, Altmaier, Svajda, De Miñaur, Bergs, Zverev, Musetti, Tabilo, Fritz, Mensik or Cobolli. A possible final could bring Alcaraz, Djokovic, Shelton or Fils. Each opponent presents a real test, and the early deficit against Bu Yunchaokete raises questions about Jódar’s readiness.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Jódar entered the US Open as ATP No. 12 to 13, while Bu Yunchaokete was ranked No. 124 and returned to the basic draw as a lucky loser. TennisUpToDate also confirmed the late change of opponent. It altered Jódar’s preparation but did not diminish his status as the clear favorite in this first-round match.
El Confidencial reports that Jódar has spoken about the responsibility of representing Spain in the Davis Cup and thanked his supporters. Praise from Roger Federer for Jódar’s steady progress has added to expectations. But Grand Slam tennis is unforgiving, and the opening moments of this match have shown how small the margins can be.
Jódar’s US Open campaign now hangs in the balance. Bad weather will compound the challenge of facing a tough opponent on a major debut, testing both his game and composure. Spanish tennis will be watching to see whether Jódar can recover and deliver on the promise that brought him here. The outcome of this match will shape his season and show whether Spain’s new Davis Cup player is ready for the sport’s top level.
