Rafael Jodar snaps at US Open reporter over shoelace controversy question

Rafael Jódar was not in the mood to field questions about his shoelaces after his first-round U.S. Open loss on Wednesday. 

Jódar had just fallen to Yunchaokete Bu in straight sets, 2-6, 1-6, 1-6, and was speaking with reporters when he was asked about the online discourse surrounding his shoelaces and how they break during matches.

The question kicked off an awkward back-and-forth before the moderator eventually moved the press conference along. 

“I’m sure you’ve probably seen online throughout the year some people talking about how your shoelaces break and things like that. I’m just wondering, are you more aware now of how you’ll just be perceived online depending on what you said?” he was asked. 

“What’s the question?” a seemingly confused Jódar asked back. 

The moderator attempted to clarify what was being asked of the 19-year-old Spaniard. 

“The shoelaces didn’t break today. So the question?” he asked again. “What is the question? I don’t know. I don’t know the question.”

When the reporter again tried to clarify what he was asking, Jódar still didn’t understand and said the “question doesn’t make sense.”

Prior to the U.S. Open, Jódar was involved in some controversy surrounding his shoelaces after they broke not once but twice during a match at the Cincinnati Open. 

During his second-round match against Denis Shapovalov at the ATP event, his shoelaces broke when he was down 4-1 and 5-3 in the final set. 

Jódar had to change his shoes twice because of the broken laces, causing a stoppage of play. The second time led to a lengthy delay. 

Similar issues also arose at the D.C. and the Canadian Opens, with The Athletic describing Jódar as a “serial lace breaker.”