Yulia Putintseva has apologized for repeatedly treating a ball girl with disdain while being passed balls for a service game during the US Open.
Putintseva was on her way to a straight-sets third-round loss to Jasmine Paolini on Saturday when she vented her rage on the innocent youngster.
With Putintseva down a set and 4-2, she attempted to throw balls at her before serving.
US Open tennis player sorry for ‘terrible’ behaviour towards ball girl
However, the Kazakhstani athlete born in Russia did not attempt to catch or pick them up, instead staring at the girl with her arms down by her side.
She eventually caught one, provoking jeers from the Flushing Meadow audience and social media censure, with Boris Becker commenting on X: “Who does Putintseva think she is… terrible behavior towards the ball girl!!!”
Rennae Stubbs, a three-time Grand Slam doubles champion, also said, “The disrespect and obnoxious behavior here is unbelievable and typical of her.”
Putintseva apologized on social media following her defeat, writing: “I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me balls.
“Honestly, it wasn’t about her. I was so angry at myself for not winning the game from the breakpoint that I became so consumed by my emotions and thoughts that I stopped paying attention to what was going on or who was passing the ball to me.
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