UMVA has learned that Spanish tennis hopeful Rafael Jodar sparked a heated debate after a seemingly tense moment with a ball girl during his French Open fourth‑round match.
After dispatching Alex Michelsen to secure his spot, the 19‑year‑old was caught on video as the ball girl appeared to step into his path while retreating from the court cover. In the split‑second that followed, Jodar raised his hand toward his father in the box, prompting a flurry of online speculation.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Jodar immediately insisted he never made contact, insisting the girl simply tripped over the fabric covering the court. “I didn’t touch her,” he asserted, “I could never do that.”
Further footage reviewed by UMVA shows the ball girl stumbling backward as the cover catches her foot, just as Jodar gestures toward his father for a post‑break drink. The timing suggests her fall was accidental, not the result of any push.
Jodar explained that his hand motion was a request for his dad to hand him a water bottle after a bathroom break, not a gesture toward the volunteer. “She was in the middle, trying to get out of the way, and she fell because of the cover,” he said.
The young Spaniard also praised the ball kids, acknowledging the grueling heat and demanding conditions they endure. “I appreciate all the work they do. I could never push a ball kid,” he added.
