Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Jack Rathborn

French Open star denies pushing ball girl after video goes viral: ‘I could never’

  • Spanish tennis player Rafael Jodar faced scrutiny after viral footage showed a ball girl losing balance near him during his French Open third-round match.
  • Jodar vehemently denied pushing the ball girl, saying that he did not make contact and was gesturing to his father for items after a toilet break.
  • While tennis legend Martina Navratilova questioned the incident and said it was “not OK”, former players Chris Eubanks and Rennae Stubbs suggested the ball girl tripped on a court tarp.
  • Jodar attributed the ball girl's stumble to the court cover and said he appreciates “all the work that the ball kids are doing”, adding: “I could never, you know, push a ball kid.”
  • Despite the controversy, Jodar secured a five-set victory, advancing to the French Open fourth round for the first time in his career.

IN FULL

Tennis world reacts after Spanish star Rafael Jodar denies pushing ball girl at French Open

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.