In a dramatic turn of events at the U.S. Open, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva found herself at the centre of a social media storm after her third-round exit. The controversy erupted following a video that captured an awkward interaction with a ball girl during her 6-3, 6-4 loss to Jasmine Paolini.
Boos for Yulia Putintseva
The footage showed Putintseva, visibly frustrated, standing motionless as the ball girl attempted to hand her tennis balls. The athlete’s cold response, letting the balls bounce off her, sparked immediate boos from the crowd and a barrage of criticism online. Social media users lambasted Putintseva for what they perceived as disrespectful behaviour, with many calling her a poor role model and questioning her character.
She also faced widespread criticism on social media, with comments from former US Open champion and six-time Grand Slam winner Boris Becker, who posted on X, “Who does Putintseva think she is? Terrible behavior towards the ball girl!!!”
According to a report published by Fox News, Putintseva took to her social media platforms to issue a public apology, clarifying that her frustration was directed at herself for missing a crucial game point. She admitted to being lost in thought and not fully present during the exchange, emphasizing that her reaction was not intended for the ball girl.
Public apology and an explanation
“I want to apologize to the ball girl for how I was when she gave 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 was going on and who gave me the ball… All the ball kids [were] doing amazing as always at the open,” Putintseva explained.
Despite the setback, the U.S. Open continues to captivate fans, with Jasmine Paolini advancing to the Round of 16, where she will face Karolina Muchova in what promises to be another thrilling encounter.