Rafael Jodar, the 20-year-old Spanish tennis player currently ranked 13th in the world, issued an apology following an incident at the Shanghai Masters where he swore at a ball boy during his last-16 match. The incident occurred on Wednesday early in the second set, shortly after Jodar had lost the first set to Botic van de Zandschulp.

Jodar was reported to have used explicit language in Spanish directed at the ball boy, saying “Dame la puta toalla, coño,” which translates to “Give me the f------ towel, damn it!” The chair umpire, Jimmy Pinoargote from Ecuador, who speaks Spanish, responded by issuing Jodar a code violation warning. The player initially argued against the warning during his exchange with the umpire but subsequently acknowledged his misconduct.

In a statement following the match, Jodar expressed regret over his behavior, saying, “I shouldn't have done that to the ball kid. It was my mistake. I'll try not to do it again.” The incident drew attention as it unfolded during Jodar’s breakthrough season, in which he has risen rapidly in the rankings and made a significant impact on the professional tennis circuit.

The Shanghai Masters matches continue to attract scrutiny over player conduct, with officials maintaining strict enforcement of conduct rules to uphold sportsmanship standards. Jodar’s acknowledgement of the error and his apology were noted as part of the tournament's broader focus on maintaining respect between players and on-court personnel.