Rafael Jodar speaks out on viral footage of him allegedly shoving French Open ball girl in on-court meltdown

Rafael Jodar faced Alex Michelsen at the French Open yesterday (29 May), claiming a victory in the third round.

But the most talked about moment of their tennis wasn’t quite to do with their playing on the court but rather accusations about his ‘attitude’.

During the match, it’s alleged that Jodar shoved a ball girl out of his way when taking a bathroom break.

Just like the pleas for a toilet break earlier in the tournament, a video of this moment quickly went viral online, as it shows the young girl lose her footing momentarily before regaining her balance.

It’s not clear if there was any contact between the 19-year-old Spanish player and her, as he also appeared to be gesturing to someone in the box. And he has now spoken out, denying pushing the ball girl.

“I didn’t touch her,” he said. “No, no, no. I could never do that.”

The footage comes from between sets, when Jodar had just thrown a bottle of water into his box while heading backstage to the toilet. Having thrown with his left hand, a ball suddenly walks in his path and then looses her footing briefly.

“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,” the tennis player explained 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.”

Jodar suggested the ball girl’s feet became tangled in the court cover, which can be seen in the video.

“It was right behind her. So when she was walking backwards, she fell with that,” he added.

“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.”

While others criticised his ‘pathetic attitude’ and ‘disrespectful behaviour’ online, others defended Jodar.

As one wrote: “Watch it in slow motion. The ball girl was crossing in front of him and trying to get out of his way but she tripped backwards as she tried to get back in place.”

Despite all this surrounding controversy, Jodar secured a 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

He will now face fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round to secure a place in the quarter-finals.