The tennis world has reacted after Spanish star Rafael Jodar strongly refuted pushing a ball girl after footage emerged from his French Open third-round win.
As Jodar was seen between sets in his five-set win over American Alex Michelsen, with the viral footage showing him throwing a water bottle into his box as a ball girl walked across his path.
The footage was inconclusive, though the girl briefly lost her standing before regaining her balance, with the 19-year-old rejecting any accusation that he made contact.
“I didn’t touch her,” Jodar strongly stated. “No, no, no. I could never do that.”
While tennis legend Martina Navratilova quoted the clip, adding: “Hmm… not ok.”
But others defended Jodar and pointed to the tarp at the back of the court, with former ATP pro Chris Eubanks noting: “The girl tripped on the tarp. The angle makes it look like he pushed her but to me, it’s very clear she tripped on the tarp trying to get out of his way.”
And former doubles world No. 1 Rennae Stubbs agreed that the tarp had proven to be a hazard once more: “I finally saw the video of Jodar. He didn’t touch the ball kid. He walked close to her no question while gesturing at his dad but the girl clearly trips over the court tarp trying to get out of the way as he walks out of the court.”
The rigid courtside covers and tarps have proven a controversial topic this year at Roland Garros, with injuries to Katie Boulter, Zeynep Sonmez, and Alexander Blockx blamed on the hazard.
He explained that he was gesturing to his father, who was in his player’s box, to hand him items after a toilet break.
“I didn’t push her or anything. I was telling my dad to give me the things that he was going to give me after a toilet break when I was coming back,” Jodar clarified after the match.
“She was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way. She was going backwards, but I think she, like, fell, but not because I push(ed) her.”
The 27th seed attributed the ball girl’s stumble to the court cover.
“It was right behind her. So when she was walking backwards, she fell with that,” he said, emphasising his respect for the young helpers.
“I appreciate all the work that the ball kids are doing. I know it’s difficult with the heat and the conditions to stay there, so I appreciate. I could never, you know, push a ball kid.”
Despite the controversy, Jodar went on to secure a hard-fought 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory, advancing to the fourth round of a major tournament for the first time in his career.
Following his win on Friday, Jodar will now face fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round for a place in the quarter-finals.
This year’s men’s tournament will see a new grand slam champion crowned after Novak Djokovic suffered a shock defeat by Joao Fonseca on Friday evening at Roland Garros.
AP contributed to this piece
