Tennis player Yulia Putintseva issued an apology over her attitude towards a ball girl at the 2024 US Open. During her match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy on Day 6 of the tournament, Putintseva gestured for the ball girl to throw her the balls only to let the first two bounce off. This action of hers came under fire equally from the audience at the venue as well as from social media users.
Following the widespread criticism, she apologized to the ball girl in a statement on her Instagram page. Check out more details about the incident and Putintseva’s apology below.
Tennis Player Yulia Putintseva apologizes to US Open ball girl
Yulia Putintseva made headlines during her match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy at the 2024 US Open for her behavior towards the ball girl. The Kazakhstan player was on the losing side when she stood on the side of the court gazing into the distance as the ball girl was about to serve her some balls. A video that went viral on the Internet showed her seemingly asking the ball girl to throw the balls her way.
However, as the ball girl began throwing the balls, Putintseva let the first two bounce off before catching the third ball. This action caused the crowd to boo at her, and it soon made it to social media. Meanwhile, the player’s actions drew widespread criticism online as it was deemed inappropriate and disrespectful. Eventually, she lost, 6-3, 6-4, to her Italian opponent.
After the online criticism grew, Putintseva took to Instagram and released a statement, apologizing to the ball girl. She said, “Honestly speaking it was not about her. I was really pissed at myself by not winning the game from the break point and then got empty with my emotions and deep in my thoughts, that I was not even focusing on what’s going on and who gives me the ball. All the ball kids [were] doing amazing as always at the Open.”
Meanwhile, many in the tennis community also condemned Putintseva’s actions. These include Former No. 1 tennis player Boris Becker. He said, “Who does Putintseva think she is … Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!!” Rennae Stubbs, Piers Morgan, and others also echoed similar sentiments.
