Rising Spanish tennis star Rafael Jódar has drawn attention for the wrong reasons after receiving a code violation for swearing at a ball kid during his fourth-round match at the Shanghai Masters on Wednesday, October 14. The 20-year-old was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after angrily demanding a towel during a tense moment on court.
The incident occurred early in the second set of Jódar’s match against Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp. Frustrated after losing the opening set in a tiebreak, Jódar shouted an expletive in Spanish while asking the ball kid to hand him a towel. The outburst was heard by chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote, who immediately issued a warning.
When Jódar questioned the penalty, Pinoargote explained that he understood the player’s frustration but would not excuse the language directed at the ball kid. The umpire reminded him to speak respectfully, offering to make the request himself if Jódar needed assistance getting a towel.
Despite the confrontation, Jódar managed to regain his composure and turn the match around. After dropping the first set 7–6 (4), he won the next two sets 6–4 and 6–2 to secure victory over van de Zandschulp and advance to the quarterfinals.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of Jódar’s interactions with ball kids. Earlier this year, he faced criticism over footage from the French Open that appeared to show him pushing a ball girl as he left the court. Jódar denied making contact, and footage from another angle appeared to support his account, although the original incident prompted widespread discussion online.
Jódar has nevertheless enjoyed a rapid rise in professional tennis. He climbed from No. 168 at the end of 2025 to No. 13 heading into the Shanghai tournament, establishing himself as one of the sport’s emerging young players.
His next challenge is a quarterfinal matchup against Norway’s Casper Ruud. As Jódar continues his breakout season, the towel incident serves as a reminder that composure and respect for everyone on court remain important parts of professional competition.
