Overview
- A short viral clip from Rafael Jodar’s third-round French Open match appeared to show him pushing a ball girl between sets, a moment that circulated widely on social media on Friday.
- Jodar strongly denied any contact in his post-match comments, saying “I didn’t touch her” and explaining he was gesturing to his father after a toilet break.
- Multiple outlets later published wider-angle and slow-motion footage and quoted spectators who said no clear physical contact occurred and that the ball girl appeared to stumble.
- Tournament officials did not intervene during the match, no disciplinary action has been reported, and Jodar went on to win the match and advance to the fourth round.
- The episode has shifted some attention from Jodar’s breakthrough run to venue safety, with coverage noting other trips over tarps and advertising boards and pushing questions about how Roland Garros manages court covers.