Latest update:
A clip at the French Open showed Raphael Godard appearing to push a ball girl, but as more angles emerged, the incident turned into a controversy over what actually happened on the court.
The teenager has now responded
Raphael Godard is facing criticism online after a clip from his French Open match against Alex Michelsen emerged of him shoving a ball girl during a change. The footage quickly spread across social media, with many viewers accusing the 19-year-old Spaniard of inappropriate behaviour.
However, as more camera angles emerged, many people argued that the incident may not have happened the way it first appeared. Godard has since denied touching the ball girl and said he would never act that way.
The clip raises criticism
The incident occurred during Godard’s third-round match at the 2026 French Open. In the video, the young Spaniard can be seen walking towards his players’ box while changing clothes after throwing a water bottle aside.
At the same moment, the ball girl standing nearby seems to lose her balance and fall. Because of the angle from which the clip was recorded, many viewers believed that Godard pushed her as she passed.
The video quickly sparked strong reactions online, with some tennis fans accusing the teenager of disrespectful behaviour.
Godard explains what happened
After the match, Godard vehemently denied having any contact with the ball girl. “I didn’t touch it,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “No, no, no. I could never do that.”
The Spanish player explained that he was communicating with his father about the items he needed after returning from a toilet break.
“I didn’t push it or anything. I was asking my dad to give me the things he was going to give me after my toilet break when I got back,” Godard said. He added that the ball girl was trying to get away at the same time.
“She was in the middle, so I think she was trying to get out of the way. She was walking backwards, but I think she fell, but not because I pushed her. It was right behind her. When she was walking backwards, I fell with her,” Godard said.
The teenager also praised the work done by the football children during the tournaments. “I appreciate all the work the ball kids do. I know it’s hard to stay out there because of the heat and the conditions, so I appreciate that. I could never, you know, push a ball kid,” he concluded.
He still won the match
The controversy erupted during what turned out to be a memorable day for Godard in court.
The Spaniard recovered from a difficult stage in the match to defeat Michelsen 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. The win sent him into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
Multiple angles tell a different story
As the debate continued, many social media users began looking at slow-motion shots and alternative camera angles.
One user wrote: “I thought it looked pretty obvious that he pushed her at normal speed. But when I slowed down the video frame by frame, it was impossible for his hand path to touch her. It was very clear that he didn’t make contact with her at all. She only stumbled when she moved back.”
Pathetic attitude from Rafa Godard….I mean he is talented but this attitude is not suitable for the tennis court..He threw the towel on the ball kid 🤬pic.twitter.com/N3i9WuuGnz
– Corona (@Djoko_UTD) May 29, 2026
Another commented: “He’s telling the truth. It looks like he pushed her, but she actually tripped over the court cover when he was pointing, and this is from another angle.”
A third user added: “It’s the angle that makes it look like you’re throwing! I apologize for this post immediately.”
What does the footage show?
A closer look at the incident suggests that the situation may not be as it seemed at first glance. While the original clip appears to show Godard pushing the ball girl, other angles suggest she may have tripped over something on the field as she stepped backwards.
Because Godard moved his arm at the same moment, the perspective of the viral video created the impression that he had called her.
Many viewers pointed to the additional footage as evidence that there was no physical contact between Godard and the ball girl, despite the clip initially appearing.
Read more
