Tennis star details ‘scary’ fallout to ‘disgusting’ ball girl drama at US Open

A tennis star who became public enemy number one at the US Open has taken to social media to try and dispel the outrage.

Yulia Putintseva offered more insight into her much-criticised actions after the Kazakhstan tennis star came under fire for how she treated a ball girl during her U.S. Open loss to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini on Sunday.

Putintseva earned boos from the crowd after staring at the ball girl before letting two balls bounce off her and previously apologised for how she handled the situation.

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“Its kind of scary the way world can judge someone from just a 3 second video, that someone post from one side, without seeing the rest on what was really happening,” Putintseva posted with a photo of the interaction and another of her face during the moment.

“I was just playing tennis and lost a tough game, which was very close (in my opinion) to turn that match around. After the game (as you can see on a pic) I got very much disappointed and was almost crying, that I didn’t do better. At this time the girl was give me the ball, which I didn't even notice or so, because I was deep in my thoughts.

“I was not trying to humiliate her (or anyone) by not taking this ball that she was given to me. I didn't do anything disrespectful to anyone at this particular moment. I do apologise, if this girl thinks that it was something towards her. (And btw her name is Kate, very nice girl, which understood that it was nothing towards her).”

Yulia Putintseva was booed by the crowd. Photo: Twitter.

Yulia posted a new angle of the moment to her Instagram.

Putintseva became a villain of the 2024 U.S. Open after many felt she humiliated said ball girl.

The 29-year-old stood off to the side of the court swinging her club during her third-round match before the ball girl approached her.

The ball girl bounced the first ball toward Putintseva, who made no attempt to grab it before it hit her, and the tennis pro let the second bounced ball hit her foot, which earned her boos.

She finally caught the third ball, while the boos intensified, before picking up one of the other balls and returning to the court.

Paolini ultimately bested Putintseva 6-3, 6-4.

Many criticised Putintseva for her actions, including German former World No. 1 Boris Becker.

“Who does Putintseva think she is …,” Becker posted on X. “Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!!”

Putintseva later apologised for her actions.

Putintseva became public enemy number one at the US Open. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP)

“I want to apologise to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving me balls,” Putintseva wrote in an Instagram Story. “Honestly speaking it was not about her.

“I was really pissed at myself by not winning the game from the break point and 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 was doing amazing as always at the Open.”

In going into more detail with her post Wednesday, Putintseva hoped others could view the interaction in a different light and revealed she plans to make it up to the ball girl.

“I cant say, that I am perfect all my career. I am getting angry on court, pissed, saying stupid stuff and curse like no tomorrow sometimes guilty for that. But I did never put myself “on top” of someone. That's just not me at all,” she posted.

“Hope you guys can see it now from the different angle now. I mean, I know that hates gonna hate and this message is getting way to long, so I am going to stop right here.

“And last thing, since Kate is already involved in this mess, I am trying to make something special for her.”