If you were scrolling through social media during the 2024 US Open, you probably saw it. A short, grainy clip of a tennis player standing like a statue while a young ball girl tosses tennis balls at her. The balls just... bounce off. They hit her stomach, her thighs, and she doesn't move a muscle. She just stares.
It was awkward. It was uncomfortable. And honestly, it made a lot of people really, really mad. Read more on a connected subject: this related article.
The player was Yulia Putintseva, a veteran on the WTA tour known for having a "firebrand" personality. But this time, the fire didn't look like competitive spirit. To the thousands of people watching in Louis Armstrong Stadium—and the millions watching the clip on X (formerly Twitter)—it looked like a professional athlete bullying a kid who was just trying to do her job.
The Moment Everything Went Wrong
Let's set the scene. Putintseva was in the middle of a third-round match against the Italian star Jasmine Paolini. Now, Paolini was having the year of her life, and Putintseva was struggling. She was down a set and 4-2 in the second. She had just lost a game where she had break points. Additional reporting by CBS Sports explores comparable perspectives on the subject.
She was fuming.
When she walked to the baseline to serve, a ball girl—whose name we later learned is Kate—did exactly what she was trained to do. She held her hands up, waited for the nod, and tossed a ball toward Putintseva.
Putintseva didn't move. The ball hit her and rolled away.
Kate tossed a second ball. Same thing. Putintseva just stared at her, hands on her hips, completely motionless. It wasn't until the third ball came that she finally caught it with one hand, dismissively, before turning her back.
The crowd didn't miss it. The boos started almost immediately.
Why the Internet Exploded
Tennis fans are used to racket smashing. They’re used to players yelling at umpires. But there is an unwritten (and sometimes written) rule in tennis: You do not mess with the ball kids. These kids are often volunteers or making very little money. They stand in the sun for hours. They are taught to be invisible, efficient, and professional. Seeing a pro player use one as a target for their frustration felt like a bridge too far for many.
Former world number one Boris Becker didn't hold back on social media. He posted, "Who does Putintseva think she is? Terrible behaviour towards the ball girl!!!"
Feliciano Lopez, the director of the Madrid Open, called it a "humiliation" of the ball kid. The sentiment across the board was basically: "Hey, win or lose, have some class."
The "Gangster" vs. The "Angel"
To understand why this happened, you kinda have to know Putintseva's history. She once famously described herself by saying, "I’m like a gangster on court, but like an angel off court."
She’s one of the most emotional players on the tour. She screams at her box, she sarcastically applauds the crowd, and she wears her heart (and her temper) on her sleeve. For her fans, it’s part of her charm—she’s a fighter. For her critics, she’s a "tennis brat."
In a later interview at Roland Garros, she even admitted that when she watches videos of her own behavior on court, she sometimes asks herself, "Who is that?"
What Putintseva Said in Her Defense
After the match (which she lost 6-3, 6-4), the backlash was so loud that an apology was inevitable. She took to Instagram Stories to try and explain herself.
"Honestly speaking it was not about her," Putintseva wrote. "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."
She followed up with a second, much longer apology a few days later. She claimed the world was judging her based on a "3-second video" that didn't show the full context. She mentioned that she was almost crying at the time because she was so disappointed in her performance.
Most importantly, she named the girl—Kate—and said she was a "very nice girl" who understood it wasn't personal. Putintseva even hinted she was going to do "something special" for her to make up for the mess.
Is "Being in Your Head" a Valid Excuse?
This is where the debate gets interesting. If you’ve ever played a sport at a high level, you know about the "tunnel vision" that happens when you're failing. You stop seeing people; you only see your mistakes.
Putintseva’s argument is basically that she was in a dissociative state of frustration. She wasn't trying to be mean to Kate; she just wasn't "there."
But many commentators, like Jon Wertheim and Brad Gilbert, pointed out that being a professional means maintaining a baseline of respect regardless of the score. Gilbert noted that many pro players were actually ball kids themselves growing up, which is why the disrespect felt so personal to the tennis community.
The Aftermath and Lessons Learned
So, what happened next?
- Kate became the hero: The ball girl was praised for her composure. She didn't flinch, she didn't get upset, and she kept doing her job perfectly while a world-class athlete had a meltdown in front of her.
- The "Special Gift": While we don't know exactly what the "special something" was that Putintseva promised, the gesture helped quiet some of the noise.
- The "Villain" Label: Putintseva didn't exactly lose her reputation as a hot-head, but the incident served as a massive reality check. In 2025, she seemed a bit more measured on court, though she still struggled with her results, including a heartbreaking loss at Wimbledon where she was seen in tears again.
Actionable Insights: What This Means for Tennis Etiquette
If you’re a young player or even just a fan, there are a few things to take away from the Yulia Putintseva ball girl incident:
- The 3-Second Rule: In the age of social media, one moment of poor judgment can define your entire career. It doesn't matter if you played 99% of the match perfectly; people will remember the 3 seconds you were unkind.
- Respect the "Invisibles": Ball kids, umpires, and line judges are essential to the game. Treating them with respect isn't just "nice"—it's a requirement of the sport.
- Own Your Mistakes: Putintseva's first apology was seen as a bit "non-apology" (the classic "I'm sorry if you felt that way"). It wasn't until her second, more personal message that the public started to move on. If you mess up, be direct and take full responsibility without the "buts."
At the end of the day, tennis is an individual sport that can be incredibly lonely and frustrating. We’ve all had bad days at work. But most of our bad days aren't broadcast to millions of people in high definition. Putintseva learned the hard way that while you can be a "gangster" against your opponent, you have to be a professional to everyone else.
To avoid similar PR disasters, athletes are now being coached more than ever on "emotional regulation" during high-stress moments. Because as this incident proved, the crowd might forgive a double fault, but they rarely forgive a lack of basic human kindness.
Next Steps for You: If you want to see how other players handle these situations, look up videos of Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal interacting with ball crews. They often make a point to say "thank you" or hand the ball back gently, which is a big reason why they remained fan favorites for decades. You can also check out the official US Open Ball Crew guidelines to see just how much training these kids go through before they ever step onto the court with a pro.
