Lucky loser Bu sends Jodar out of US Open

China's Bu Yunchaokete achieved his maiden Grand Slam main draw victory at the 2026 US Open on Tuesday, upsetting 12th seed Rafael Jodar of Spain 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the men's singles.

Bu Yunchaokete of China hits a return during the men's singles first round match between Bu Yunchaokete of China and Rafael Jodar of Spain at the 2026 US Open tennis championships in New York, the United States, Sept. 2, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Bu earned a spot in the men's main draw as a lucky loser after Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew with an injury.

"It was a bit tough. Everything was going my way, but then came the rain. We just did our job, stayed focused, saved energy, and were ready to come back at any time. So I'm really happy about that," Bu said after the match.

In the men's singles second round, China's Wu Yibing secured a place in the last 32 for the second time in his career, defeating James Duckworth in straight sets 7-5, 6-3, 6-1.

"I made thorough preparations for this match. I controlled the rhythm well throughout, played solid, and stayed highly focused. It hasn't been easy for me, my recent form wasn't great, and I came to this US Open without a technical coach, fitness trainer, or physiotherapist," Wu said.

In the women's singles second round, Wang Xinyu failed to advance after losing 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 to 21st seed Anna Kalinskaya.

"It was a pity to lose the first set because I hesitated on my attack. I played really well in the second set, but my opponent raised her level in the decider, which was a good learning experience for me," Wang said.

"I gained a lot from several matches during the North American swing, which will help me play more decisively. I want to stay committed to my own style. I still have the doubles ahead, and I'm grateful for everyone's support," she added.