Serena Williams' former coach reacts strongly to Rafael Jódar's ball girl controversy at French Open

The 2026 French Open has produced no shortage of discussion away from the baseline, and one of the tournament's latest viral moments has drawn a response from former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs. A video involving Spanish teenager Rafael Jódar and a ball girl sparked controversy online during the third round at Roland Garros, with some viewers initially believing the player had pushed the child out of his way. However, Stubbs said the footage tells a different story.

Rafael Jódar's ball girl controversy

The incident occurred during Jódar's third-round match against American Alex Michelsen, a contest the Spaniard eventually won 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 after 4 hours and 16 minutes on court.


Between sets, Jódar left the court for a toilet break and was seen walking toward the sideline while throwing a water bottle to his team and gesturing in the direction of his player box.


As he walked toward the sideline, a ball girl moved across his path and briefly lost her footing before regaining her balance. Because of the camera angle, many social media users believed Jódar had shoved the child aside as he passed.

Rennae Stubbs defends Jódar

After reviewing the footage, Stubbs disputed claims that the Spanish player had made contact with the ball girl. The former Australian tennis star posted on X, "I finally saw the video of Jodar. He didn’t touch the ball kid."


Stubbs' comments echoed the view of several spectators and social media users who argued that the ball girl appeared to lose her footing on the courtside tarp rather than being pushed.

Stubbs is one of the most recognizable voices in tennis. A former professional player, she has worked as a coach, commentator, and analyst for years. She also served as the coach of Serena Williams during the 2022 US Open, the final professional tournament of Williams' legendary career in New York.

While the viral clip generated significant backlash against Jódar, alternative angles and eyewitness accounts have led many observers to conclude that no physical contact occurred between the player and the ball girl. Stubbs' reaction has only added to the growing belief among some tennis followers that the incident was the result of an unfortunate stumble rather than player misconduct.