Tennis star Yulia Putintseva has publicly apologized following criticism for her treatment of a ball girl during a match at the 2024 US Open.
Yulia Putintseva, a 29-year-old tennis player, issued an apology after her conduct towards a ball girl during her August 31 match against Jasmine Paolini sparked backlash. The incident, which quickly went viral on social media, took place during a tense moment in the match when Putintseva was preparing to serve.
In the video clips widely shared online, the ball girl attempted to supply Putintseva with tennis balls on three occasions. Each time, Putintseva remained still, allowing the ball to bounce off to the side without making any effort to catch it. It wasn’t until the third throw that she finally caught the ball and continued play. The crowd’s displeasure was evident, as boos could be heard, and social media users were quick to voice their disapproval.
“I feel bad for the ball girl,” one user on X (formerly known as Twitter) posted on September 1. Another added, “So rude and disrespectful!”
Following the match, which Paolini won, Putintseva addressed the controversy in an Instagram Stories post, acknowledging her actions and expressing regret.
“I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was when she was giving me balls,” Putintseva wrote, according to a screenshot shared by Sports Illustrated. “Honestly, it was not about her. I was really upset with myself for not winning the game from the breakpoint and got so lost in my emotions and thoughts that I wasn’t even paying attention to what was happening around me, including who was giving me the ball… All the ball kids were amazing as always at the Open.”
Paolini advanced to the next round of the tournament but was defeated by Karolína Muchová on September 2. The 2024 US Open continues through September 8.