Yulia Puntintseva issued an apology for her poor behavior at the U.S. Open. However, it does not forgive her disrespect toward the young ball girl who was just trying to do her job.
To make matters worse, the Russian star ā who currently represents Kazakhstan ā has a history!
Puntintseva is the No. 32-ranked tennis player in the world. She played lost in straight sets to Jasmine Paolini in the third round on Saturday, 6-3, 6-4. The result was disappointing.
Although the Italian was a higher-ranked seed, Puntintseva was knocked out of the tournament as a result of her own performance. It was not a situation where the better player simply out-matched her opponent. Rather, the lower-ranked seed made multiple costly errors and never gave herself a chance.
Unfortunately, Puntintseva’s poor showing led to an ugly moment late in the match.
A nearby ball girl tried to throw her three different balls before the serve, as is always the case, after the 29-year-old encouraged her to do so. Puntintseva proceeded to stare blankly at the ball girl, with her arms down by her side, and made no effort to catch any of the three balls. They hit her and rolled away.
Fans inside Louis Armstrong Stadium were quick to boo the discourteous etiquette.
@PutintsevaYulia being a grownup today when losing to @JasminePaolini at @usopen. @TheTennisLetter @andyroddick @BenRothenberg @josemorgado pic.twitter.com/Ythdc8cbYV
— Meredith Thompson (@MerThomp) August 31, 2024
Puntintseva issued an apology after the match.
I want to apologize to the ball girl for the way I was, when she was giving balls. Honestly speaking it was not about her. I was really pissed at myself by not winning the game from the breakpoint 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 kid were doing amazing as always at the open š«¶
ā @yulia_putintseva on Instagram
No matter how pissed she was at herself, it does not excuse the tantrum. The ball girl didn’t deserve that.
Yulia Puntintseva’s history of impropriety further discredits the apology. Nothing has changed. She continues to state her regret without reform.
I’m like a gangster on court but like an angel off court.
ā Yulia Putintseva in 2022
It has been a theme since she was a child.
I knew since I was a kid. My father would tell me, “Yulia, your temper on the court is too much sometimes” […]
I was wild, too much fire.
ā Yulia Putintseva
The flames are not extinguished. Putintseva was booed off of the court after smashing her racket in frustration earlier this year.
Her most infamous was in 2019 when Putintseva flipped off the crowd at the Aussie Open.
Wow! Yulia Putintseva giving the finger has she walked off court!#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Hz1v0O2dk3
— Philip T Boosey (@PhilipTBoosey) January 16, 2019
This is a reoccurring theme. If Yulia Putintseva is truly sorry, she will make a change.
If not, that’s totally fine. Controversy is ultimately good for the sport. It makes tennis more fun.
Just don’t apologize if you don’t mean it!