Tennis player Yulia Putintseva has issued an apology following a controversial moment involving a ball girl during her match at the US Open, which drew widespread criticism for her behavior.
During her third round match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy on August 31, Putintseva exhibited visible frustration as she fell behind in the game. When the ball girl tried to hand her the balls to serve, Putintseva remained unresponsive, staring blankly as the girl tossed three balls her way. A video of the incident, shared on X (formerly Twitter), captured the moment.
Eventually, Putintseva picked up a ball to resume the match, but the crowd did not react kindly, booing her for the perceived disregard. She ultimately lost the match with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
The incident sparked backlash online, including comments from former US Open champion Boris Becker, who criticized Putintseva’s actions. He posted on X, questioning her attitude and labeling her behavior towards the ball girl as “terrible.”
In response to the backlash, Putintseva took to her Instagram Stories to express her regret and clarify the situation. She admitted that her behavior was a result of her own frustration and not directed at the ball girl. “I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me balls,” she stated.
She further explained, “Honestly speaking, it was not about her. I was really upset with myself for not winning the game from the breakpoint and became consumed with my emotions, which made me lose focus on what was happening.”
Putintseva concluded by acknowledging the efforts of all the ball kids at the tournament, stating that they “were doing amazing as always.”
The 2024 US Open will continue in New York City until September 8.