Rafael Jodar issued an apology following an incident during his last-16 match at the Shanghai Masters, where he directed profane language at a ball boy. The 20-year-old Spanish player, ranked 13th globally after a breakthrough season, was penalized for the outburst in the early stages of the second set against Botic van de Zandschulp on Wednesday.

The episode occurred shortly after Jodar lost the first set, when he reportedly used a Spanish expletive requesting a towel from the ball boy, saying “Dame la puta toalla, coño,” which translates to “Give me the f------ towel, damn it!” The chair umpire, Jimmy Pinoargote of Ecuador, who is a Spanish speaker, responded promptly by issuing Jodar a code violation warning.

Jodar initially contested the warning during his exchange with the umpire but later acknowledged his error and expressed regret over his conduct. "I shouldn't have done that to the ball kid. It was my mistake," he stated. "I'll try not to do it again."

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about player conduct on the court, emphasizing the standards expected of professional athletes during competitions. Jodar’s apology follows a pattern of increased scrutiny over language and behavior in tennis tournaments.