Tennis Player Yulia Putintseva Apologizes After She's Criticized for Rude Behavior Toward Ball Girl at US Open

Mar. 15, 2025

Yulia Putintseva.Photo:Robert Prange/Getty

Robert Prange/Getty

Tennis star Yulia Putintseva is apologizing after an exchange with a ball girl during herUS Openmatch drew criticism from fans for her “terrible behavior.”

On Saturday, Aug. 31, Putintseva, 29, grew frustrated with herself during her third round match at the New York City tournament as her opponent, Jasmine Paolini of Italy, won another game. When a ball girl went to give her balls to serve, Putintseva refused to react, watching listlessly as the ball girl tossed three balls her way, as seen in avideoshared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Putintseva waited until all the balls came her way before finally scooping one up to continue the match — however the damage was done and she was met with instant booing from the crowd. She went on to lose the match 6-3, 6-4.

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Yulia Putintseva.Robert Prange/Getty

“Who does Putintseva think she is … Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!!” he wrote onX.

“I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me balls,” she wrote.

She also noted that “all the ball kids were doing amazing as always at the open.”

The2024 US Openis currently taking place in New York City through Sunday, Sept. 8.

source: people.com