Rafael Jodar behaviour branded ‘inexcusable’ as ‘villain of the ATP Tour’ question raised

Coach Brad Gilbert criticized Rafael Jodar's behavior towards a ball kid at the Shanghai Masters, labeling the outburst as inexcusable. The incident occurred during Jodar's fourth-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp, where the Spaniard received a code violation after swearing at a ball kid while demanding a towel. Gilbert argued on Tennis Channel's The Big T podcast that directing frustration toward vulnerable ball persons must remain strictly off-limits.

Jodar later apologized for his actions after his quarterfinal match, describing the incident as a mistake. Despite the controversy, the 20-year-old reached his first Masters 1000 final in Shanghai, climbing to world No. 11 after a 6-1, 6-7(5), 4-6 loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Gilbert noted that Jodar must ensure such conduct is never repeated as his career progresses.