Yulia Putintseva issues grovelling apology after US Open backlash for ‘terrible behaviour’ to ball girl
Yulia Putintseva was forced to apologise after her treatment of a ball girl at the US Open was criticised.
Putintseva was filmed during her match with Jasmine Paolini refusing balls from the ball girl.
She allowed two to just hit her and roll away, before then grabbing a third.
The Russia-born Kazakhstani tennis player quickly went viral online as she was criticised for her treatment of the young ball girl.
She was also loudly booed by the crowd in the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Boris Becker wrote on X: "Who does Putintseva think she is … Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl!!!"
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One person added: "Absolutely love this ball girl not putting up with any of Putintseva’s bratty nonsense. The ball kids are disrespected far too often."
A third wrote: "Disrespectful attitude from Putintseva with a ball kid. Should be a fine."
Putintseva lost the third round match to Paolini 6-3 6-4 as she was dumped out of the US Open.
After facing the backlash, she issued an apology on Instagram.
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She wrote: "I want to apologise to the ball girl for the way I was when she was giving me the balls.
"Honestly speaking it was not about her. I was really p***** off 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 an amazing as always at the Open."
She even commented on her bizarre antics on court after her second round victory over Wang Xinyu.
"On the court I have different kinds of personality," she said.
"Sometimes it's a clown, sometimes it's a gangster. Sometimes I'm feeling great and I'm just happy.
"I'm so emotional and I think the people can see when I'm frustrated with something and when I'm enjoying playing. Off the court I'm different. I'm an angel. Not always, but my mom tells me that!"