Rafael Jodar Swears at Ball Boy in Shanghai Outburst
Rafael Jodar, 20, is under fire again after being caught swearing at a ball boy during a match in Shanghai, just months after a similar incident at…
Tennis player Rafael Jodar, 20, has sparked fresh controversy after being caught using offensive language toward a ball boy during his match against Botic Van De Zandschulp at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, October 14 [1]. Footage shows Jodar shouting, "Give me the f***ing towel, damn it!" after losing two break points in a row [2].
Chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote issued him a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Jodar appeared stunned, asking, "You give me a warning, man?" Pinoargote responded, "I can’t repeat it, you know what you said, I can’t repeat it now. Not like that, we don’t talk to them like that." [1]
Jodar disputed the call, arguing that the ball boy had only been away for a moment and claimed, "We’ve been playing for an hour and ten minutes, man. He goes away for a second, I say something and you already give me a warning. It’s unbelievable, you can really tell you’re not on the court." [1]
This is not the first time Jodar has drawn criticism. In May, he was accused of shoving a ball girl at Roland-Garros during a bathroom break, though he denied any contact, saying she tripped on a court cover [1]. He later stated, "I could never, you know, push a ball kid," emphasizing his respect for their work [2]. This claim about the ball girl tripping on her own has not been confirmed by independent sources.
The incident in Shanghai follows a string of similar moments: a near-miss with a ball girl at Wimbledon, a glare after being hit by a ball at the Citi Open, and a lack of gratitude when a ball girl returned his racket [2].
Jodar went on to defeat Van De Zandschulp in three sets, advancing to the quarter-finals where he will face Norway’s Casper Ruud on Friday, October 16 [2].
While some fans have defended him, citing misleading angles or misinterpretations, others have condemned his conduct as unprofessional [1]. The incident has reignited debate over player behavior and accountability on tour. The story was first reported by Daily Mail and Us Weekly.
Sources
This article is based on reporting by the outlets below.
- Daily Mail: Tennis star who denied shoving a ball girl is now caught abusing a ball boy in f-word row over a TOWEL - before getting a dressing down from umpire and claiming 'I said nothing wrong'
- Us Weekly: Tennis Player Rafael Jodar Yells Expletive at Ball Boy in Bizarre Scene
