Bu Stuns Jodar in US Open Upset

China’s Bu Yunchaokete has produced one of the biggest surprises of this year’s US Open, defeating rising Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar in a dominant straight-sets victory on Wednesday.

The world number 124 needed less than two hours to overpower the 12th-seeded Jodar 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, recording one of the most one-sided results of the tournament so far.

Bu’s appearance in the main draw has been unexpected. The Xinjiang-born player lost in the final round of qualifying but earned another opportunity after Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew because of injury.

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The Chinese player had already completed his warm-up session on Tuesday morning and was preparing to catch a flight that evening when he learned he had been moved into the tournament.

Bu embraced the opportunity and played with freedom against Jodar, who entered the tournament as one of Spain’s promising young talents.

“It’s nothing you can lose with a lucky loser,” Bu said after the match. “Enjoy the crowd and enjoy the court and play one of the best players in this year.”

The victory marked Bu’s first Grand Slam main-draw win after six previous unsuccessful attempts. The 28-year-old said the wait made the achievement even more meaningful.

“If I have to win my first match like this, I’m okay with the loss five, six times before,” he said. “So yeah, that’s great.”

Rafael Jodar (NewscentralTV) — Spanish star Rafael Jodar was stunned by China’s Bu Yunchaokete in the biggest upset of this year’s US Open

Bu has spent much of the 2026 season competing on the Challenger circuit, where he has won two titles, both on grass courts. He said he has been working to add a more attacking approach to his game after developing a powerful baseline style influenced by his time training in Spain.

The Chinese player, who reached a career-high ranking of 64th, named Britain’s Andy Murray as one of his tennis heroes and also praised Li Na, the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title.

“We have a lot [of] great players on the women’s side, but the men’s side is not that much,” Bu said.

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For Jodar, the result marked a disappointing US Open debut in a season where he began ranked 165th in the world. The 19-year-old admitted Bu was the better player on the day.

“He played better than me, and that’s the reason why he won today,” Jodar said after the match.

Bu will now face American Michael Zheng in the second round as he continues an unlikely run at Flushing Meadows.

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Tope Oke

Temitope is a storyteller driven by a passion for the intricate world of geopolitics, the raw beauty of wildlife, and the dynamic spirit of sports. As both a writer and editor, he excels at crafting insightful and impactful narratives that not only inform but also inspire and advocate for positive change. Through his work, he aims to shed light on complex issues, celebrate diverse perspectives, and encourage readers to engage with the world around them in a more meaningful way.