Rafael Jodar has fallen into a controversy after a video of him seemingly pushing a ball kid on the court at the French Open has gone viral on social media. While the Spaniard is denying the claims, the moment caught Martina Navratilova’s attention, who expressed dismay over the situation.
This unusual moment took place during the third round of the French Open amid Jodar’s contest against Alex Michelsen. After an intense showdown of 4 hours and 16 minutes, the Spaniard registered a 7-6(2), 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory, advancing to the fourth round. Even though he won the match, fingers were raised at him after the controversial moment of him seemingly pushing the ball kid went viral online.
In the video he is seen bumping a ball kid as she was in his way while he was leaving the court. During the post-match press conference, he was questioned about what happened at the moment and whether he pushed the ball kid. Defending himself and denying the claims, he said:
“No, I mean, I finished the 3rd, the 2nd or the 3rd set. I don’t remember which set it was, and she was walking backwards, and I think, I mean, I didn’t push her or anything. I just, I was telling my dad, to give me the things that he was gonna give me after my toilet break when I was coming back, but she was in the middle, so I think she was like trying to get out of the way, and she was going backwards. But I think she like fell, but not because I pushed her, because it was like something for like what do you call it, the map, the court cover, yeah, there was, it was right behind her, so when she was walking backwards, she fell with that,” said Rafael Jodar.
He added:
“But, obviously, I appreciate all the work that the ball kids are doing, and I know it’s difficult when the heat and the conditions to stay there, so I appreciate, and I could never push a ball kid. No, I didn’t touch her. No, no no, I mean, I could never do that.”
This viral controversy drew the attention of the former tennis player Martina Navratilova, who dropped a three-word reaction on X that read:
“Hmm… not ok.”
Rafael Jodar weighed in on his round-3 clash at the French Open
After defeating Alex Michelsen in a tight match, Rafael Jodar sat for a post-match press conference and opened up about the showdown. Calling it a ‘tough’ match, he praised his opponent, stating that he played well. Crediting Michelsen for pushing him during the match, he said:
“It was a really tough match. He played very well during the whole the whole match. So, I had to give my best to go through this round. So, all credit to him as well because he played an amazing level of tennis today,” said Rafael Jodar.
“I mean, it was a really tough match. I knew that he was playing very well at the end of the second set and especially at the beginning of the third set, but I knew the match was still very long when I lost the third set. I knew that if I gave my best, I had chances and that’s what I did that if the match is not over until you finish the last point. And that was my mentality during the fourth and the fifth set. And that’ one of the reasons why I could turn around this match.”
Also read:
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