A tennis star has faced backlash for her publicly disrespectful behavior towards a ball girl, leading to widespread criticism.
At the US Open, tennis star Yulia Putintseva faced significant backlash for her publicly disrespectful behavior towards a ball girl.
The controversy happened during a high-profile match, drawing significant attention from fans, media, and fellow athletes.
The tennis star Yulia Putintseva humiliated publicly ball girl
During her game against the Italian player Jasmine Paolini, Putintseva exhibited behavior that many viewers deemed disrespectful towards as a ball girl.
A video of the incident shared on Twitter quickly went viral, sparking widespread criticism on social media.
The match, held at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, showcased Putintseva’s skills on the court.
However, it was her interaction with the ball girl that overshadowed the game itself.
In the footage, Yulia Putintseva stands at the court’s edge, swinging her racket while a ball girl bounces a ball to her.
Instead of catching it, she ignores the ball twice, leaving the girl waiting awkwardly.
Finally, on the third attempt, Putintseva catches the ball and resumes play.
Social media reactions
Viewers took to social media to express their outrage.
Many criticized Putintseva for her lack of respect towards someone who plays an essential role in the game.
No excuses. She’s supposed to be a professional. Your true character is revealed under pressure, one user said.
Her apology in no way matches her body language. No way she was deep in her thoughts when she even let a ball bounce on her body.
She is just disrespectful and should have been sanctioned, the second user commented.
Actually… I reckon if that ball girl could have flipped her off… She would have! Another wrote.
Her parents need a smacking for raising their daughter with this attitude, someone affirmed.
The athletes issued an apology
In the aftermath of the backlash, Putintseva issued an apology on her Instagram story.
She clarified that she did not direct her actions at the ball girl; instead, her frustration with her own performance caused them.
“I was really upset with myself for not winning and got distracted,” she wrote.
She acknowledged the ball girl’s hard work and expressed regret for her behavior.
“Honestly speaking it was not about her. I was really pissed at myself for not winning the game from the breakpoint.
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 amazing as always at the open.”
Despite her apology, the incident has raised questions about the responsibilities of athletes as public figures.
Many believe that sports stars should demonstrate good sportsmanship and respect for all individuals involved in the game, including ball kids.