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Rafael Jodar unexpectedly defeated by lucky loser at US Open

The 19-year-old Rafael Jodar, former junior champion, exits unexpectedly in the first round of the US Open.

3 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Rafael Jodar unexpectedly defeated by lucky loser at US Open — Archive photoPhoto: chascow · Flickr · BY

Spanish tennis player Rafael Jodar unexpectedly lost in the first round of the US Open. According to kicker, the 19-year-old was defeated by Chinese player Bu, a so-called 'lucky loser' who was a last-minute addition to the main draw.

According to Kleine Zeitung, Jodar made many unforced errors at the site of his former junior victory two years ago. Despite a rain interruption, he could not improve his performance and was eliminated from the tournament early.

In parallel to Jodar's exit, young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz continued his title defense. As reported by Südtirol News, Alcaraz won his match against Portuguese player Jaime Faria in four sets, encountering problems only in the first set.

Jodar's loss is surprising, as he is regarded as one of the most promising talents in tennis. While Alcaraz successfully advances to the third round, Jodar misses out on the fortunate moment that Bu denied him in the tournament.

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