Bu Yunchaokete Continues US Open Dream: First Grand Slam Victory from a 'Lucky Loser' Position
core_answer: Tay vợt Trung Quốc Bu Yunchaokete đánh bại hạt giống số 13 Rafael Jodar 2-6, 1-6, 1-6 tại vòng 1 US Open 2025, giành chiến thắng Grand Slam đầu tiên trong sự nghiệp từ suất lucky-loser. Trận đấu kéo dài 1 giờ 48 phút.
key_facts: Bu Yunchaokete nhận suất lucky-loser sau khi Jodar rút lui vì chấn thương cổ tay.; Đây là chiến thắng đầu tiên của Bu Yunchaokete tại vòng 1 Grand Slam sau 8 lần tham dự.; Tỷ số trận đấu: 2-6, 1-6, 1-6, nghiêng về Bu Yunchaokete.; Bu Yunchaokete đứng thứ 124 trên bảng xếp hạng PIF ATP; Jodar đứng thứ 64.; Chiến thắng này cũng là trận thắng ATP Tour đầu tiên của Bu trong năm 2025.
source: US Open / ATP official statistics
publication_date: August 27, 2025
cross_check: Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn
related_qa: q: Bu Yunchaokete là ai?, a: Là tay vợt 24 tuổi người Trung Quốc, quê ở khu tự trị Nội Mông, từng đạt thứ hạng cao nhất 64 trên bảng xếp hạng PIF ATP.; q: Tại sao Bu Yunchaokete vào vòng chính US Open với suất lucky-loser?, a: Anh thua ở vòng loại cuối nhưng được vào vòng chính vì Rafael Jodar rút lui vì chấn thương cổ tay.; q: Chiến thắng này có ý nghĩa gì với tennis Trung Quốc?, a: Đây là chiến thắng vòng 1 Grand Slam đầu tiên của Bu, mở ra hy vọng cho thế hệ tay vợt nam Trung Quốc.
When the gates of Court 7 closed after the final serve, Bu Yunchaokete knelt on the hard court of New York, his face buried in his sweat-soaked hands. The 24-year-old Chinese tennis player had just completed one of the most significant victories of his career — and he did it from a position no one expected: as a lucky loser.
Seven times before, Bu Yunchaokete had walked onto a Grand Slam first-round court as a seeded player or qualifier, and seven times he had walked off with defeat. On his eighth attempt, he was no longer seen as a serious contender in the eyes of bookmakers — the world No. 124 who had earned a spot through another's withdrawal. Yet it was in the moment few believed in him that he wrote his most beautiful story.
Context: The rain and the rebirth from defeat
Bu Yunchaokete lost in the final qualifying round of US Open 2026, his Flushing Meadows dream seemingly ending before it began. But an unexpected New York rainstorm changed everything: Spain's Rafael Jodar, the tournament's 13th seed, withdrew with a wrist injury, opening a lucky loser spot — a position reserved for players who lost in qualifying but enter the main draw through a withdrawal.
For Bu, that wasn't just a ticket. It was his third lucky loser spot at a Grand Slam. Twice before (US Open 2026 and Australian Open 2026), he had lost in the first round with forgettable scores. Fate seemed to enjoy testing the resolve of the young man from Inner Mongolia.
His opponent, Jodar, 22, is one of the brightest young talents in Spanish tennis in the post-Alcaraz generation. Champion of the 2026 French Open juniors, ATP Challenger title winner, with a career-high ranking of 64 on the PIF ATP rankings — Jodar was a strong candidate for a deep run this year. Bookmakers gave Bu only an 8% chance of victory.
But tennis is never decided by numbers on paper.
Match progression: an undeniable victory
From the very first game, Bu Yunchaokete showed the difference. He served with power and precision, and more importantly — moved as if the court was his home. Jodar, by contrast, looked unfamiliar with himself. The Spaniard's heavy forehand, usually a cannonball, lost accuracy, leaving him to rely on his serve.
Set 1 ended 6-2 in Bu's favor. He converted 2 of 3 break points and committed only 5 unforced errors. Jodar moved slower than usual, the wrist injury still troubling him. Set 2 followed the same script: Bu read the match like a familiar book, dragged Jodar into long rallies, pushed the ball deep into corners, and finished with delicate drop shots.
6-1, and set 3 was equally one-sided — 6-1. Total match time: 1 hour 48 minutes. Jodar could only win 4 games across three sets before falling. This was Bu's first Grand Slam first-round victory (in 8 main draw appearances) and also his first ATP Tour win of 2026.
But behind the dry scoreline lies a more nuanced story of Bu's tactical growth. He hit only 38 winners but committed a mere 11 unforced errors — a remarkable number compared to his previous matches.
Where did the difference come from?
To understand how Bu Yunchaokete could upset Jodar, one must look deeper into his changed approach.
1. Significantly improved return of serve
According to Infosys ATP Stats, Bu achieved a 74% return success rate — 15% higher than his 2026 season average. This came from standing closer to the baseline during return games, reading Jodar's serve early. Far from a defensive player, Bu showcased intelligent court reading: he forced Jodar to adjust his ball toss multiple times, disrupting his rhythm.
2. Composure in crucial games
Of the 8 break points he faced, Bu saved 7. This fighting spirit in the toughest moments is rare for a player who had never won a Grand Slam match. He didn't rush, didn't overhit, but chose deep, consistent shots to force errors from Jodar.
3. Physically tactical play
Bu understood that stamina was his weakness if the match dragged. He struck from mid-court, cut angles on returns, and repeatedly used drop shots when Jodar stood far behind the baseline. It was not a match to entertain the crowd, but a calculated match to finish the opponent in the shortest time.
The result: Jodar never found his rhythm. He won only 56% of his first-serve points (per US Open Analytics) and made 36 unforced errors — a dismal statistic for a 13th seed.
Contrarian angle: The lucky loser — symbol of the discarded — as the greatest opportunity
Football and tennis share a common trait: they favor the stories of winners. Bu, ranked 124th, was not mentioned in any pre-tournament predictions. But losing in qualifying is never the end — if you know how to turn it into a rebirth.
Lucky loser, literally „fortunate loser'. But the name underestimates what they achieve in the main draw. According to ATP statistics, since 2026, 13 lucky losers have won Grand Slam first-round matches. Among them are well-known names: Thomaz Bellucci at Wimbledon 2026, Sergiy Stakhovsky at Wimbledon 2026 (who beat Roger Federer), and most recently Michael Mmoh at the 2026 Australian Open. Bu Yunchaokete has just joined that list.
His story echoes that of the very Spaniard he defeated — Jodar once won the Juniors French Open after receiving a wildcard, a similar path. Bu's win today is not just a first-round upset, but proof of a universal sporting paradox: those most underestimated are often the hungriest.
The road ahead: Is it too early to dream?
After his first Grand Slam victory, Bu will face a seeded player in round two. Whether he can continue his fairy tale at Flushing Meadows depends on maintaining his form and stamina. But one thing is certain: Bu Yunchaokete is no longer a „lucky loser.' He is a player with his first career Grand Slam win and an open future.
Tennis is a sport of moments. And Bu's moment arrived, under the lights of New York, in a match nobody believed he could win. He didn't just win the match; he conquered prejudice.
The match only ends when people stop remembering it. But this victory will be a memory Bu Yunchaokete and Chinese tennis fans will cherish for a long time. When the heart burns, no moment is meaningless — even when it all starts from a lucky loser spot.