(VIDEO) Rafael Jodar back under the spotlight after snubbing ball girl while walking onto court

Rafael Jodar has been getting a lot of positive spotlight on the tennis court in terms of his ability. The 19-year-old is in another big quarter-final at Roland Garros after coming through another five-set thriller against fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta. However, he is also getting more negative press after he snubbed a ball kid while walking onto the court.

Jodar was already under scrutiny after seemingly pushing away a ball girl while wandering off the court in his win over Alex Michelsen. However, the first videos being sent around were misleading with him not making any contact with her.

He fought back at any claims of this in his press conference. “She was walking backwards, I mean, I didn’t push her or anything,” Jodar said. “I was telling my dad to give me the things that he was going to give me after a toilet break when I was coming back. But yeah, she was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way. She was going backwards, but I think she fell, but not because I [pushed] her.”

Following this a much more tame but eye-catching incident occurred right before his last-16 tie. The players walk onto the court with a ball kid by their side. On Court Suzanne Lenglen, this was no exception with them both waiting there for the two players to take their hands.

Carreno Busta did so, leaving one left to stroll on alongside Jodar. However, the two-time Masters 1000 quarter-finalist obviously did not get the memo. He ignored the girl and walked by himself to his chair, leaving her standing alone at the edge of the court. She did follow behind the oblivious Jodar, doing her role while the Spaniard was focused on one thing, and that was the upcoming match.

Another incident similar to this occurred in the Rome Open with Luciano Darderi also not taking the hand of a ball kid. The Italian, wearing huge sunglasses, strode onto the court in a confident manner while not seeing his supposed companion. He would later apologise for this error.

Already a lot of negative attention has been diverted towards Jodar who is not allowing it to affect him on court. Into the last-eight, he is proving why there is so much hype around his name after a glorious clay swing. He will take on the world number three Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals of the French Open. The winner of that may be the overall favourite to win the title.