Rafael Jódar became the youngest semifinalist in the history of the Shanghai Masters on October 16, 2026, defeating Casper Ruud after earlier apologizing for a profanity-laden outburst directed at a ball kid during his previous match.
The 20-year-old Spanish tennis player secured a three-set victory over Norway’s Casper Ruud, winning 4:6, 6:4, 6:3 to match his career-best result at a Masters-level tournament. The win marked the fourth match in Shanghai where Jódar dropped the opening set before rallying to take the match, advancing him to a semifinal meeting with Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Tommy Paul 6:3, 1:6, 6:3.
Rafael Jódar Faces Backlash Over Shanghai Ball Kid Incident
Jódar arrived in the quarterfinals under a cloud of public criticism following a match against Botic van de Zandschulp. During that match, Jódar vented his frustration toward a ball kid tasked with supplying towels, according to an account published by El País.
Rafael Jódar said, Give me that f*cking towel, damn it!
The outburst drew an immediate code violation from chair umpire Jimmy Pinoargote. The Ecuadorian official, who understood the Spanish phrasing, rejected Jódar’s protests and admonished the player on the court, stating, We don’t talk to them like that. I understand you perfectly, but not like that.
Rafael Jódar is the most prominent comet of the current tennis season. Prior to his encounter with Botic van de Zandschulp, the young Spaniard eliminated Thiago Agustín Tirante and Jiří Lehečka. During the tournament on hard courts with a total prize fund of 9,415,725 dollars, Jódar’s progression has drawn attention. Critics have noted previous instances where he demanded that a ball kid take an extra step even though the child was standing in his correct designated position.
Public Apology and Career Ascent Under Scrutiny
Following his quarterfinal win against Ruud, Jódar addressed reporters and expressed remorse for his actions toward the ball kid. He acknowledged that the warning issued by the chair umpire was justified and stated his intention to apologize personally to the boy.
I was terribly frustrated with how the match was going for me. It was a very tight exchange. I definitely didn't want to offend the ball kid in any way, I was just frustrated with myself. At that stage of the match, I couldn't control my emotions. Rafael
Commentators have contrasted Jódar’s rapid rise with his on-court conduct. The Spanish youngster has been compared to Rafael Nadal—who finished his career in 2024 with 92 tournament titles—while facing scrutiny for impatience with ball kids during tournament matches, including prior incidents involving positioning demands.
This cannot be defended in any way. He made a mistake that he has to learn from. He is still young and makes mistakes just like anyone else. But you don't treat a ball kid like that, and it must never happen again.
With tournament operations continuing in Shanghai, Jódar’s behavior remains a focal point as he prepares for his semifinal clash on Saturday against Daniil Medvedev, the 2019 champion.