Tennis star slammed and forced to apologize for ‘disrespectful’ behavior after ‘humiliating’ ball girl

Tennis player Yulia Putintseva has spoken out after a video of her behavior towards a ball girl went viral on social media.

On Saturday (August 31), Kazakhstani professional tennis player Yulia Putintseva went head-to-head with Italian player Jasmine Paolini in the third round of the finals of the US Open at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.

However, it was Putintseva's interaction with a ballgirl opposed to her opponent which has ended up under particular scrutiny online.

A Twitter user called Meredith Thompson took to social media to share a video of Putintseva's interaction with one of the ballgirls.

The caption reads: "@PutintsevaYulia being a grownup today when losing to @JasminePaolini at @usopen."

The footage shows Putintseva standing at the edge of the court with her hip popped, swinging her racket at her feet. A ballgirl then proceeds to bounce a ball over to her, however, the pro tennis player just stands there, not moving to catch it.

This happens for a second time, with Putintseva just looking down at the ball as another rolls past her, all while the ballgirl stands awkwardly waiting.

On the third throw, Putintseva catches the ball and then wanders back to the game.

And it hasn't taken long for people to weigh in on the tennis player's conduct.

One user said: "Ugly moment in the Putintseva vs Paolini match at the US Open. The ball girl tries tossing the ball and Yulia watches it bounce on the ground without moving.

"So many ball kids look up to these athletes. Let's try to treat them kinder."

"Completely disrespectful behavior, she is a horrible role model," another added.

A third commented: "Who does Putintseva think she is …Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl !!!"

"Shame on her!!! Humiliation of a ball kid is the last thing you do on a tennis court.." a fourth wrote.

And Putintseva has since also taken to social media to apologize for her behavior.

In a since-expired post on her Instagram Stories, she offered an apology to the ball girl for 'the way [she] was when she was giving [her] balls'.

She continued: "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 what's going on and who gives me the ball...

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

Paolini ended up winning the game 6-3, 6-4 and went into the fourth round.