Spanish wonderkid Jodar involved in testy exchange following shock US Open exit
Spanish wonderkid Rafael Jodar was involved in testy exchange with journalist following stunning exit to Chinese lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete at the US Open on Wednesday.
Rafael Jodar was tripped up at the first hurdle of his maiden US Open campaign before a heated exchanged with a journalist during his press conference; watch the US Open live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app
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Spanish wonderkid Rafael Jodar was involved in testy exchange with journalist following stunning exit to Chinese lucky loser Bu Yunchaokete at the US Open on Wednesday.
Jodar was tripped up at the first hurdle of his maiden campaign in New York, as the Spanish 12th seed failed to find his rhythm and fell 6-2 6-1 6-1 to Bu.
Back at the site of his junior triumph two years ago, the 19-year-old Jodar looked unusually out of sorts after his first-round clash was delayed by a day due to rain, with a flurry of unforced errors in defeat.
Jodar, one of the fastest-rising talents in the men's game after going from 362nd in the world to 13th over the past year, continued to struggle for answers and even sent several of his rackets to be re-strung in a bid to change his fortunes.
But it proved futile, with the 24-year-old Bu refusing to loosen his grip on the contest as he took the first set before sealing the second set after another unforced error from Jodar to silence a vocal contingent of Spanish supporters on Court 17.
World No 124 Bu completed the upset after an hour-long rain delay, securing his maiden Grand Slam main-draw victory on his seventh attempt.
"After I lost in qualifying, I took a day off but I saw a few guys pull out, so I took the decision to come back and tried to do some work in case I could play. Yesterday, they told me I could... when I heard that, I was super excited."
Jodar was asked about people discussing his shoelaces breaking during matches on social media and if he's more aware now of how he might be perceived online.
Journalist: "Tough one. I'm sure you've probably seen online throughout the year some people talking about how your shoelaces break and things like that. I'm just wondering, are you more aware now of how you'll just be perceived online depending on what you said?"
Jodar: "The shoelaces didn't break today. So the question? What is the question? I don't know. I don't know the question."
Journalist: "Sorry, I'm sure like when your shoelaces were breaking… I'm sure you noticed a lot of people were talking about it online. I'm wondering, are you worried that if you talk about your physical condition… if people might think you're making excuses, basically?
Jodar: "Doesn't make sense." Moderator: "We can go to the next question."
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