A downpour in New York forced Rafael Jódar to wait for his first US Open match. The 19-year-old Spaniard climbed from ATP No. 707 to No. 13 in a year and must now adjust his routine for the rescheduled match against China’s Yunchaokete Bu, ranked 124th.
The match was originally set for Tuesday but moved to Wednesday after hours of rain disrupted the schedule. Marca reported that Jódar’s match was set for Court 17, not before 12:30 p.m. New York time on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Sources including the Laver Cup and ATP rankings list Jódar’s current world ranking as No. 13.
The delay comes at a busy time for Jódar, who enters the tournament as the 12th seed and carries high expectations from Spanish fans. Over the past year, he reached the second round at the Australian Open and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros. He made the third round at Wimbledon, reached a final in Washington and a semifinal in Canada, then advanced to the round of 16 in Cincinnati. The US Open completes his first appearance at all four Grand Slams.
Today’s match is scheduled for 19:10 Spanish peninsular time on Stadium-17 at Flushing Meadows and will be broadcast live on Movistar Plus+. Bu, who made the basic draw as a ‘lucky loser’ after Kokkinakis withdrew with an injury, trains in Alicante. The draw gives Jódar a relatively open path in the early rounds. Top players such as Álex de Miñaur, Alexander Zverev and Lorenzo Musetti could meet him only from the round of 16; Taylor Fritz and Jabuk Mensik are also possible opponents at that stage. A match against Carlos Alcaraz would come only in the final.
Jódar’s return to New York stands out: two years ago, he won the US Open junior title there. At 1.91 meters tall, he plays an aggressive baseline game and is already being compared to past Spanish champions, though his rise has been even faster. The Spanish tennis community is watching closely. A strong run could establish him as Spain’s next big contender.
Weather delays are nothing new at the US Open, but this year’s interruptions have made conditions more unpredictable for everyone involved. Long waits can disrupt routines and affect players physically and mentally. Puntodebreak reported that persistent rain forced organizers to reschedule and cancel several matches, disrupting players and fans throughout the tournament day. As recent weather alerts in Spain have shown, unpredictable conditions can affect sports on both sides of the Atlantic.
Jódar’s progress from junior champion to seeded Grand Slam player in less than two years reflects a rapid rise built on talent and hard work. Spanish fans expect results, while the tennis world is watching to see if he can deliver on the big stage. For now, Jódar finally gets his chance at Flushing Meadows after the rain.
