US Open star Yulia Putintseva issues second apology amid backlash over behaviour – but denies she was trying to ‘humiliate’ a ball girl

Tennis star Yulia Putintseva has issued a second apology for her behaviour at the US Open, but denied suggestions she had ‘humiliated’ a ball girl.

The 29-year-old was involved in an ugly moment during her third-round defeat to Italian Jasmine Paolini, which led to her being heavily booed by the crowd at Flushing Meadows and criticised by the likes of Boris Becker and Piers Morgan.

Footage showed two balls being thrown towards Putintseva ahead of her next serve, only for the player to ignore them and stare back at the girl without moving her position.  

It left the youngster in an awkward position, before Putintseva caught the third ball before resuming the match when she was down 4-2 in the second set. 

Putintseva apologised for her ‘terrible behaviour’ earlier this week on social media, insisting she was ‘p***ed’ at herself rather than the ball girl.

Yulia Putintseva ignored the ball girl’s attempts to throw the balls towards her, letting the first one hit her torso (left) while the second one bounced off her feet and rolled away (right)

Putintseva did not acknowledge the ball girl as she caught the third ball, as the young girl held her arms out almost in disbelief at what just happened

The tennis star issued a second apology over the incident and posted a photo highlighting her disappointment at losing a game – rather than making an attempted to ‘humiliate’ the ball girl

The Kazakhstan player, the world number 32, has now shared photos of the incident.

Putintseva claimed the photos highlighted her disappointment at not breaking back against Paolini, rather than at the ball girl.

The star also admitted she was ‘guilty’ of bad behaviour on court in the past, while revealing she planned to arrange something special for the ball girl following the incident.

‘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,’ she wrote.

‘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 didnt do better. At this time the girl was give me the ball, which I didnt 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 apologize, 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)

‘I cant say, that I am perfect all my career. I am getting angry on court, p***ed, 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.

‘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.

Putintseva insisted she did not do anything disrespectful and claimed she was deep in her thoughts at the time

The 29-year-old had been slammed for her behaviour by several prominent tennis figures 

Putintseva issued an initial apology on social media for her actions and said that she was ‘p***ed off’ with herself at the time of the match when it happened during a straight-set defeat

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

Footage of the incident, posted on social media, had shown the ball girl attempt to pass Putintseva a ball, only for the Kazakhstan player to let it hit her torso and bounce away.

Her second attempt at throwing the ball to the player was again ignored as it bounced off Putintseva’s feet – and the player turned her head to watch it roll away from her. 

That was when loud boos were directed at Putintseva, who caught the third ball without acknowledging the ball girl.  

Putintseva then looked to grab one of the balls which she previously ignored, as the ball girl had her arms stretched out wide.

There was no acknowledgement towards the ball girl as Putintseva returned to the baseline, and footage showed the ball girl returning to her station with a wry smile and shaking her head at what just happened.

Putintseva said she is trying to arrange ‘something special’ for the ball girl involved

Former US Open champion Becker led the criticism as he wrote on X: ‘Who does Putintseva think she is… terrible behaviour towards the ball girl.’

His tweet was in response to one which described it as an ‘ugly moment’ during the match. 

Piers Morgan also took to social media and hit out at Putintseva’s ‘disgusting arrogance’. 

Putintseva won just two more games after the incident as fifth seed Paolini cruised through to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.