In a shocking turn of events at the 2024 US Open, Yulia Putintseva’s hopes of a deep run in the tournament were dashed by Jasmine Paolini in the third round. The match took place at the prestigious USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, where Putintseva’s emotions seemed to get the better of her.
Despite a valiant effort, Putintseva was ultimately defeated by Paolini with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-4. The Kazakhstani player struggled to find her rhythm, hitting only 22 winners and getting broken four times out of six service games. It was a disappointing performance from the 29-year-old, who failed to live up to expectations.
However, the real drama unfolded when Putintseva’s interaction with a ball girl caught the attention of fans and onlookers alike. In a moment of frustration, Putintseva appeared to take out her anger on the young girl, ignoring her attempts to pass the balls for her serve. The teenager, who looked no older than 16, was left visibly flustered as Putintseva let the balls bounce off her without a second glance.
The incident did not go unnoticed by the crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, as boos rang out in response to Putintseva’s disrespectful behavior. Fans and viewers took to social media to express their outrage, with a video of the incident quickly making its rounds on X.com, formerly known as Twitter.
It remains to be seen how Putintseva will respond to the backlash from fans and the media. As the fallout from her controversial actions continues to unfold, one thing is certain – her behavior on the court has left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it. The question now is how Putintseva will choose to address the incident and move forward in her career.