Tennis Star Apologizes After Rude Treatment Of U.S. Open Ball Girl Sparks Backlash

Russian-born Kazakhstani pro tennis player Yulia Putintseva apologized for her shady treatment of a U.S. Open ball girl who was trying to pass her new tennis balls on the court during the third round play.

In viral clips, the world No. 27 player seemingly signaled to the ball girl to supply her with new balls, but Putintseva stood motionless, with her arms down to the side, and let two of the thrown balls bounce off her body without bothering to go after them.

Putintseva finally caught the ball on the third attempt and strode over to snatch the other off the ground before resuming her losing streak against Jasmine Paolini of Italy.

Spectators interpreted her behavior as disrespectful, and jeered and booed at Putintseva.

You can watch a clip here.

She was under fire online for the awkward moment with the unnamed ball girl.

On Saturday, Putintseva issued a statement of apology on her Instagram story and chalked up her bizarre display to misdirected resentment.

She wrote:

“I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was when she was giving me balls.”

“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 whats going on and who gives me the ball … "

"All the ball kids [were] doing amazing as always at the open.”

@yulia_putintseva/Instagram

Some thought expressing regret online wasn't sufficient.

But an apology is still an apology and it should exonerate her from further ridicule, right?

Well, not everyone thought so.

Others thought it best to leave what's done in the past.

Putintseva's apology came hours after her elimination from the U.S. Open for losing 6-3, 6-4 to Paolini.