Yulia Putintseva issues second apology to US Open ball girl amid continued online criticism

NEW YORK—Yulia Putintseva issued a second apology on social media on Wednesday after a moment from her third-round defeat to Jasmine Paolini went viral for an awkward interaction with a ball girl.

Fan footage of the incident appeared to show Putintseva, the No. 30 seed, ignoring the young woman as she tossed balls in her direction before her serve. Many reacted online to the apparent disrespect, which led Putintseva to issue two apologies: one to her Instagram stories on Sunday and a second Wednesday afternoon.

Accompanied by pictures that sought to add context to the debate, Putintseva wrote, “It’s 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.

“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.”

Seeming to speak to criticism that the first apology did not directly address the ball girl, Putintseva continued, “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).”

A former world No. 27, Putintseva had been enjoying a run of impressive results this summer, defeating world No. 1 Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon and then-No. 2 Coco Gauff at the Cincinnati Open. The 29-year-old is more broadly known, however, for her distinct on-court character and emotional reactions—both positive and negative. But the Russian-born Kazakh sounded determined to make amends as she concluded her statement.

“I can’t say, that I am perfect all my career,” Putintseva conceded. “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.

“Hope you guys can see it now from the different angle now. I mean, I know that hate’s 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 🤫”