Rafael Jodar was put on the spot after his unexpected first-round exit at the 2026 US Open, where he was overwhelmed by lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete.

The No. 12 seed was beaten 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday by the 124th-ranked Chinese player in a result that turned heads across the tennis world. The match had originally been scheduled for Tuesday before rain pushed it back a day. Jodar had also been preparing to play Thanasi Kokkinakis, who withdrew because of injury.

Instead, the Spaniard found himself unable to establish any rhythm. He was broken seven times and did not earn a single break point against his 24-year-old opponent’s serve. The 19-year-old had entered the tournament viewed by many as a dark horse, thanks to the strong run of form he had built since the clay-court season began.

In his press conference, Jodar was direct in his assessment of the loss.

Q. Could you explain how you’re feeling on goal and why you weren’t able to bring your best today?

JODAR: He played better than me. And that’s the reason why he won today. Physically good. Yeah, that’s it. That’s how the match went. He played better than me. So he deserved to win today.

Asked whether he felt worse than usual on court, Jodar said the match simply did not go his way and added that he would need time to reflect on the tournament.

JODAR: Well, that’s secondary. I mean, I tried to give my best today. It wasn’t meant to be today. So, yeah. I had a good season overall. So, yeah, it’s going to be, yeah, some time to recover and to think about this tournament and what I can learn from that.

He also pointed to the rain delay as a factor both players had to manage, but declined to use it as an excuse. Later, when asked about the surprise of the result and his physical condition across a long season, Jodar insisted he was not getting tired and said he would review the match with his team before deciding on the rest of his schedule.

Aryna Sabalenka was drawn into a sharp exchange with a journalist after her second-round US Open victory, following a question that appeared to link her tournament preparation with partying.

The world No 1 arrived in New York under some scrutiny. Several pundits had backed her to struggle to defend her title after a recent dip in form, including early defeats at both the Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open. Instead, she has made a strong start to her campaign, backing up a two-set win over Camila Osorio with a one-sided 6-1, 6-1 dismissal of qualifier Polina Iatcenko on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The flashpoint came in the post-match press conference, when Sabalenka took issue with a question about her mood and the run-up to the event. She believed the line of questioning suggested she had been partying too much and was not properly focused on tennis.

The exchange quickly grew tense.

Journalist: “I’m sort of curious. How are you finding like your mood once… now that the tournament has started? Obviously last week it’s lots of parties and fun and stuff like that.”

Sabalenka: “Are you guys like a joke? Party [partying] is fun. Like, why would you even say that? Why would you even think about that? Like what kind of question is that? Like just because I posted like some activities with brands and you think that I’ve been fighting, not training.”

Journalist: “I’m not suggesting that you’re partying. … I’m saying that there are a lot of events and things like that. I’m not saying you go to the parties and that you’re…

Sabalenka: “You literally said that … Next question.”

Jouanlist: “For everyone, for everyone who’s not clear, Aryna I’m not suggesting that Aryna is having fun at these parties. I’m saying that she makes a lot of appearances and there’s a lot to do and lots of events. Okay.”

Sabalenka: “Move on.”

Journalist: “So, now that the tournament started, do you find you’re getting quite serious and combative?”

Sabalenka: “Oh, yeah. I wasn’t serious before that. Next question.”

As another journalist began asking a separate question, Sabalenka added one final remark: “Think before you say stuff, I yeah, sorry. No, not you.”

Sabalenka now moves on to face Kamilla Rakhimova in the third round. She also remains under ranking pressure, with the No 1 spot set to pass to Elena Rybakina if the Kazakh player reaches the semi-final.

Alex Eala opened her US Open campaign with an uncomplicated straight-sets victory over American Mary Stoiana, dropping only three games to move into the second round. Her next assignment comes against Oleksandra Oliynykova.

The result itself was straightforward. The wider reaction around Eala’s first-round match, however, was not. Ticket pricing for Louis Armstrong Arena became a talking point after surge pricing pushed costs sharply higher for fans wanting to see the 21-year-old in action.

Before Eala faced Stoiana, a ticket for Louis Armstrong Arena was listed at $146. By the time of her match on the showcourt, that figure had risen to $342. That represented a 134% increase. The average purchase price for the match was $438, which was 87% more than the average price for other matches at the tournament so far.

Eala’s rise over the summer has made her one of the most popular players on the WTA Tour, and her support has been especially visible during 2026. Her popularity has also helped several tournaments during the year, particularly in the Middle East and on the North American hardcourt swing. Tournament directors for the Washington Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Open have all praised her for drawing larger crowds than usual.

That is why the pricing approach at the US Open has drawn criticism. For many followers, the concern is not simply the cost, but the likelihood that loyal fans will be priced out of seeing one of the tour’s most followed players.

Eala is scheduled to play Oliynykova on Thursday, 3rd September’s order of play, with the exact time and court still to be confirmed. She is expected to appear on one of the two showcourts, with Louis Armstrong Arena or Arthur Ashe Stadium the likely options.