Yulia Putintseva apologizes for her ugly behaviour at U.S. Open

Yulia Putintseva, the Kazakhstani tennis player, found herself at the center of controversy during her U.S. Open match against Jasmine Paolini on Saturday. Following her defeat, Putintseva faced widespread criticism for her actions on the court, which many found embarrassing and inappropriate.

In the third round of the U.S. Open in Queens, New York, Putintseva was decisively beaten by Paolini, losing 6-3, 6-4. As frustrations mounted in the second set, Putintseva’s behavior toward a ball girl caught the attention of both spectators and the broader tennis community.

A video from the match quickly went viral, showing an awkward and uncomfortable moment between Putintseva and the ball girl. With her arms hanging loosely at her sides, Putintseva stood motionless as the ball girl attempted to hand her a ball. Rather than accepting the ball, Putintseva let it bounce off her torso, and then another ball off her foot, before finally grabbing the third one. The crowd responded with boos, clearly disapproving of her antics.

The incident sparked a significant backlash, with many criticizing Putintseva for her unsportsmanlike conduct, especially towards the ball girl. Among the critics was former World No. 1 Boris Becker, who expressed his dismay on social media. “Who does Putintseva think she is … Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl!!!” Becker wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

In the face of mounting criticism, Putintseva issued a public apology on social media. The 29-year-old explained that her actions were a result of frustration with her own performance, particularly after missing two break points in the sixth game of the second set. She claimed that she was so deep in thought and disappointment that she did not realize what she was doing.

“I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was when she was giving me balls. Honestly speaking, it was not about her. I was really pissed at myself for not winning the game from the breakpoint 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,” Putintseva wrote.

Despite her apology, the incident left a lasting impression on fans and commentators alike, highlighting the pressures and emotions that can boil over in high-stakes matches.

Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini advanced to the round of 16 with her victory and is set to face Karolina Muchova on Monday.