Rafael Jódar’s surprisingly early exit at the 2026 US Open was capped off by a tense exchange with a reporter during his press conference. The Spaniard bristled at the reference to a past controversy and firmly dismissed the line of questioning.
Inside Rafael Jódar’s Tense Exchange with US Open Reporter
Jódar has made a remarkable impression in his first full season on the professional circuit, climbing from outside the top 100 to become the world No. 13. Along the way, he won his maiden ATP Tour title at the Grand Prix Hassan II and reached the quarterfinals of the French Open.
The 19-year-old also appeared poised for a strong US Open campaign after finishing as the runner-up at the Mubadala DC Open and reaching the Canadian Open semifinals. However, Jódar’s hopes of making a deep run in New York were dashed by Yunchaokete Bu in the first round.
After enduring a lengthy rain delay that forced the match to be postponed to Wednesday, Sept. 2, Jódar struggled to mount a challenge as the Chinese star claimed a dominant 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 victory in just one hour and 48 minutes.
During his post-match press conference, the Spaniard was asked whether he had given any thought to how he was perceived online following the discourse caused by his broken shoelaces.
Jódar had faced the issue several times during the North American hardcourt swing, forcing him to pause matches to change his shoelaces as they continued to snap. The problem also led to a tense moment during his encounter with Denis Shapovalov at the Cincinnati Open.
However, the 19-year-old appeared baffled by the reporter’s question, pointing out that he had not experienced the issue during his tournament opener.
“What’s the question?” he said. “The shoelaces didn’t break today. So the question? What is the question? I don’t know. I don’t know the question.”
The reporter then clarified that the question was about whether Jódar was concerned about being perceived as using the broken shoelaces as an excuse to take a break during matches, but the Spaniard brushed off the suggestion.
“Sorry, I’m sure, like, when you’re 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?” the reporter asked.
“Doesn’t make sense,” the world No. 13 responded.
Rafa Jodar was asked about people online discussing his shoelaces breaking during matches and if he’s more aware now of how he might be perceived online
“Tough one. I’m sure you’ve probably seen online throughout the year some people talking about how your shoelaces break and… pic.twitter.com/jp87erA4KE
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 2, 2026
After pulling off a stunning upset over Rafael Jódar, Yunchaokete Bu will square off against American Michael Zheng in the second round of the US Open.
