Tennis Fans Hurl Angry Chants at US Open Star for Disrespecting Ball-Girl With Her Serious Gesture
Tennis Fans Hurl Angry Chants at US Open Star for Disrespecting Ball-Girl With Her Serious Gesture
In a tournament, while players give their all by showcasing their skills, not everyone leaves with a result that brings a smile. Well, some players keep their frustration to themselves, while others vent out. On that note, Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva found herself in a situation where her match was overshadowed by a momentary act. While the Kazakh chose not to delve deeper into it, fans couldn’t help but shower her with criticism.
Putintseva lost in the third round of the ongoing US Open against Jasmine Paolini. She was visibly upset after Paolini defeated her 6-3, 6-4 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. And this disappointment pushed her into a situation that has garnered a lot of criticism.
A clip from the match surfaced online showing Putintseva’s gesture. In the clip, when a ball girl offered her tennis balls, she casually ignored two of them by looking at the stands. The crowd present at the stadium started booing loudly. Finally, after letting two balls bounce away, she caught the last ball, picked up the second-last one from the court, and returned to the game.
@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
Putintseva’s body language made it clear that she was deeply dissatisfied with how things had unfolded at that moment, and she chose to react in front of the crowd. This Kazakhstani player’s reaction didn’t sit well with fans, who stormed the internet to express their opinions.
Fans call Yulia Putintseva a “loser” after her unacceptable behavior with the ballgirl
Not all days go as planned, and Putintseva experienced this firsthand yesterday after losing at the American Slam to Paolini. Despite her efforts, her skills didn’t bear the fruit of success. Unlike many players, Putintseva chose to express her disappointment publicly, without regard for criticism. While her reaction seemed like a spur-of-the-moment act, fans had a hard time accepting it. After the clip went viral, people began expressing their anger. One person wrote, “Lol what a loser.” This fan’s comment didn’t refer to the Kazakh’s loss in the round; instead, she was called a loser for taking advantage of her position and mistreating the ball girl in front of the spectators.
The anguish didn’t remain in criticism. People started dropping advice for the player. “Grow up lady” tweeted one person, urging Putintseva to act maturely and accept that losing is part of the game. Her public display of frustration showcased her immaturity in handling sensitive situations.
Putintseva’s behavior sparked outrage on social media. People began recalling how Victoria Azarenka once made a negative comment about the Kazakhstani player, and now they feel Azarenka was right. “Azarenka was 100% right about her,” fans echoed, recalling the 2022 Doha Open match between Azarenka and Putintseva. The Kazakh threw her racquet when Azarenka played to bring a 4-0 deficit in the third set. “Before my serve, she can do that. What’s the problem? She has to wait for me to serve. She threw her racquet, like, 7 times. Four, four is okay. She needs a mental coach, she needs a psychiatrist,” Azarenka said to the umpire then. Now, fans feel the Belarusian’s comment was justified.
Yulia Putintseva’s anger has earned her a mixed reputation in the tennis fraternity. In the 2019 Australian Open, this WTA star showed the middle finger to the surprised crowd after Belinda Bencic defeated her in the second round. Putintseva was in no mood to shake hands with the umpire or her opponent. These behaviors have given her a reputation for being unprofessional. “@PutintsevaYulia worst attitude in professional tennis?” commented a fan.
It seemed as if the whole tennis world was disappointed with her behavior. Putintseva’s recent act wasn’t new given her past. She has hardly compromised in expressing her feelings. Now fans think of her as classless. “Never had an ounce of class, never will,” tweeted another fan. The whole comment thread criticised the Kazakh’s behavior calling her out many times.
Putintseva couldn’t handle Paolini’s fierce on-court skills and lost her chance at Flushing Meadows. While her defeat was disappointing, the media’s focus shifted to her act of frustration. Now, it remains to be seen whether the Kazakhstani player will respond or take accountability for the fans’ disappointment.
