Bu Yunchaokete, ranked 124th and a lucky loser, eliminated 12th seed Rafael Jodar from the US Open 2026 with a stunning 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory. The 24-year-old Chinese player became the first lucky loser in the Open Era to defeat a top-15 seed at a Grand Slam, an achievement that will be remembered in the sport's record books.
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A one-sided affair at Flushing Meadows
Jodar arrived in New York as one of the season's breakthrough stories, having rocketed from 168th to 11th in the world rankings in just eight months. But the 19-year-old Spaniard never found his rhythm on Wednesday. He won just four games in under two hours, committing 37 unforced errors against only 15 winners. Most strikingly, Jodar failed to earn a single break point in the entire match, rendered completely powerless by Bu's relentless consistency.
Bu Yunchaokete's unlikely path
Bu was not even supposed to be in the main draw. He entered as a lucky loser after Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew with ankle and calf injuries sustained at the Cincinnati Masters, learning only on Tuesday that he would face the 12th seed the following day. Before this match, Bu's Grand Slam record stood at a dismal 0-6. His first career major victory turned out to be one for the history books.
No excuses from Jodar
The young Spaniard refused to hide behind excuses after the match. No injury, no fatigue from the rain-delayed schedule. "He simply played better than me," Jodar acknowledged, as his first US Open as a seeded player ended in the worst possible fashion.
This defeat adds to Novak Djokovic's first-round exit and paints a picture of a men's draw in turmoil, with favourites falling one after another at Flushing Meadows. (Sources: ATP Tour, Yahoo Sports, Tennis Majors, France 24)
