Spanish tennis sensation Rafa Jodar has denied pushing a ball girl during his French Open victory over American Alex Michelsen, and a closer look at the footage appears to back up his account.

The incident occurred between sets during the 19-year-old Madrid player’s dramatic five-set win on Friday, which secured his place in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Video clips shared widely on social media sparked outrage after appearing to show Jodar shoving a ball girl as he walked towards his courtside box.

However, frame-by-frame analysis suggests the youngster was not responsible for her fall.

The footage shows the ball girl moving backwards across Jodar’s path at the same moment he is gesturing towards his father in the stands after throwing a water bottle into his box.

As she steps back, the heel of her left foot appears to catch on a crumpled section of court tarp lying on the ground behind her.

The contact causes her to lose balance and stumble backwards.

The replay shows the loose cover striking the back of her foot immediately before she falls, supporting Jodar’s explanation of events.

Speaking after the match, the Spaniard was adamant that he never touched the ball girl.

‘I didn’t touch her. No, no, no. I could never do that,’ he said.

Jodar explained that he had been signalling to his father about items he planned to collect after a toilet break.

‘I didn’t push her or anything. 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,’ he said.

‘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.’

The teenager also pointed directly to the tarp as the cause of the accident.

‘It was right behind her. So when she was walking backwards, she fell with that,’ he explained.

‘I appreciate all the work that the ball kids are doing. I know it’s difficult with the heat and the conditions to stay there, so I appreciate it. I could never push a ball kid.’

While the original clip quickly fuelled criticism online, the slowed-down footage appears to support Jodar’s version of events and suggests the ball girl’s fall was the result of an unfortunate trip rather than any deliberate contact.

The controversy did little to derail the Spaniard’s breakthrough tournament, with the world No. 27 battling past Michelsen 7-6 (2), 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the last 16 of a major for the first time in his career.