Rafael Jodar was once again on the receiving end of criticism from fans due to his behaviour on court after he was heard swearing at a ball kid during a match at the Shanghai Masters.

After sailing a backhand long during his fourth-round clash with Botic van de Zandschulp at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, a frustrated Jodar received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct for comments he made. He was heard by Spanish-speaking umpire Jimmy Pinoargote saying to a ball kid: “Give me the f—— towel, damn it!”

Jodar, 20 years of age, ultimately went on to win the match and has since booked his place in the semifinals of the Shanghai Masters by beating Casper Ruud in three sets.

John Isner reacts to Rafael Jodar’s behaviour in Shanghai

Reacting to the incident with the ball kid in an episode of the Nothing Major podcast, former American player John Isner offered Jodar somewhat of a defence. “It’s just frustration,” said Isner. “It’s hot in Shanghai. I’m not excusing it. He’s had a few moments.”

Jodar has been criticised before for incidents involving ball kids, most notably at the French Open earlier this year, when an angle of a video suggested he pushed a ball kid out of the way when leaving the court. A different angle showed the ball kid had stumbled, however.

Where do you think Rafael Jodar will be ranked at the end of 2026?

“He’s got to get a little better there,” said Isner. “But I think the criticism he’s receiving is, in my mind, too harsh. He’s young, right? I think he’ll get better at that, but it is important to show the right behaviour toward the ball kids.

“They’re working so incredibly hard out there. It’s just a pressure cooker out there on the court, as we all know, and you’re not really yourself sometimes out there, so he does need to get better, but I also think people need to just chill out online, you know.”

Jodar, who burst onto the scene during the clay swing earlier this year, is bidding to qualify for the ATP Finals in his debut season on the ATP Tour. With his win over Ruud, the Spaniard is now eighth in the race to Turin, where the year-end tournament is held.

Steve Johnson praises Rafael Jodar amid his run in Shanghai

Steve Johnson, another former American star who reached a career-high ranking of 21st in the world, focused on Jodar’s performances in Shanghai. “He’s just a very good tennis player,” said Johnson. “He’s had a couple of confusing losses throughout his great summer, but that being said, I think he’s just young, and it’s just him adjusting to life on the tour.”

Prior to his run in Shanghai, Jodar had suffered a second-round exit at the US Open and crashed out in the opening round of the Japan Open. Johnson said: “The losses are highlighted just because it was the US Open, where he was a high seed, where he should have done or could have done well.

“But I mean, he’s a very good tennis player. It’s crazy to think that he started the year in, you know, Challengers and ATP qualifying and is very likely pushing for his spot in Turin in just a month’s time or whatever.”

Jodar currently occupies the last qualifying spot in the race to the ATP Finals with a points tally of 2,909. Alex de Minaur trails him in ninth with 2,880, while Novak Djokovic is still chasing a ticket to Turin with 2,840 live points in 10th place.