Yulia Putintseva criticized for embarrassing US Open ball girl during unusual encounter.

Jasmine Paolini defeated Kazakhstan's Yulia Putintseva in the third round of the U.S. Open, prompting Putintseva to issue a public apology after being criticized on social media for her behavior towards a ball girl.

On Saturday, a video on social media captured Putintseva appearing to give a cold shoulder to the ball girl during the second set of her 6-3, 6-4 loss.

Putintseva, visibly frustrated, stood motionless as the ball girl tossed her two tennis balls, allowing each one to bounce into her before finally making an attempt to catch the third.

The crowd reacted negatively to the interaction, with boos and criticism on social media.

"Ball kids deserve equal respect, as they too work hard. Respect," one person posted on X.

"She is a terrible role model due to her completely disrespectful behavior," another person stated.

"A person's character can be inferred from how they treat those beneath them," a different post stated.

The criticism prompted Putintseva to post an apology on her own social media.

She revealed that her anger stemmed from her own performance and that she was preoccupied with her thoughts during the awkward exchange.

"I want to apologize to the ball girl for my behavior during the game. Although it was not about her, I was upset with myself for not winning from the breakpoint and became emotionally drained. I was so focused on my own thoughts that I didn't pay attention to who was giving me the ball. The ball kids, however, were exceptional as usual at the open."

Jasmine Poalini defeated Putintseva in the third round of the U.S. Open, and she will now face Karolina Muchova in the Round of 16.

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