The tennis world was abuzz with controversy as 30th seed Yulia Putintseva faced criticism for her behavior towards a ball girl at the US Open. After her defeat in the third round, footage emerged showing Putintseva blatantly ignoring a ball girl's attempts to deliver balls to her during her serve.
The incident unfolded as Putintseva allowed the first two balls to bounce off her without acknowledgment, staring directly at the ball girl before catching the third ball and turning away without showing any gratitude. The audience at the US Open expressed disapproval through boos as Putintseva finally received the ball without acknowledging the ball girl's efforts.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, drawing condemnation from tennis legends and fans alike. Former World No. 1 Boris Becker took to Twitter to criticize Putintseva's behavior, stating, "Who does Putintseva think she is... Terrible behavior towards the ball girl!!!" Similarly, Feliciano Lopez, the former Spanish player, and tournament director of the Madrid Open, expressed his dismay, commenting that Putintseva had humiliated the ball girl and emphasizing that such behavior has no place on a tennis court.
Despite the backlash, Putintseva, who represents Kazakhstan, issued a public apology to the ball girl through her Instagram story. She explained that her actions were fueled by frustration over her performance on the court rather than any ill intentions towards the ball girl. Putintseva acknowledged that she was not focused during the match due to her emotions and deep thoughts and expressed gratitude to all the ball kids for their hard work at the US Open.
In addition to facing criticism from fans and tennis personalities, British media personality Piers Morgan also condemned Putintseva for her actions, accusing her of displaying "disgusting arrogance" on the court. The incident seemed to have affected Putintseva's performance, as she lost the match in straight sets to Jasmine Paolini, the French Open and Wimbledon runner-up, who advanced to the fourth round.
Despite the defeat, Putintseva walked away with a prize of $215,000 for reaching the third round of the US Open. The controversy surrounding her conduct towards the ball girl served as a stark reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respect in the world of tennis, prompting reflection and discussion within the tennis community.