Spanish tennis player Rafael Jódar apologizes for swearing at Shanghai ball kid
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The gist
Spanish tennis player Rafael Jódar, 20, apologized for swearing at a ball kid at the Shanghai Masters.
The run also puts an ATP Finals spot within reach.
Background
Rafael Jódar is a 20-year-old Spanish tennis player ranked 13th in the world, in his first full season on the ATP Tour and chasing a first qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals (the season-ending tournament for the year's top players). A year ago he was playing collegiate tennis for the University of Virginia and ranked No. 283; he turned pro on New Year's Eve and started this year at No. 165. He won his first ATP Tour trophy in Marrakech and reached quarterfinals in Madrid, Rome and at the French Open, the Washington final and a Masters 1000 semifinal in Canada. The apology follows earlier fan criticism over incidents involving ball kids, including a French Open episode.
How it unfolded
- Oct 14, 2026During his last-16 match against Botic van de Zandschulp at the Shanghai Masters, Jódar was given a warning by chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote after swearing at a ball kid while asking for a towel. He won 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2.
- Oct 16, 2026Jódar beat Casper Ruud 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the quarterfinals, his fourth straight comeback win from a set down, to become the youngest semifinalist in event history.
- Oct 16, 2026After the Ruud win, Jódar apologized for swearing at the ball kid, saying it was his mistake and that he is learning how to behave on court.
- Oct 16, 2026He was due to face either Daniil Medvedev or Tommy Paul in Saturday's semifinal; a win there would lift him to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, effectively the final qualifying spot with Jannik Sinner out for the season through injury.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Jódar said he thought about the incident afterwards, that he shouldn't have done it to the ball kid, and that he is learning how to behave on court just as he is learning his shots.
- Official
- Chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote warned Jódar over the swearing, telling him, per El Partidazo de COPE, that he should ask the umpire to request the towel instead.
Still unverified
Jódar is reported to have said "Dame la puta toalla, coño" (translated as "Give me the f–––––– towel, damn it!"). Jódar has said of the French Open episode, "I didn't touch her. No, no, no. I could never do that."