Tennis player Yulia Putintseva has issued an apology after her behavior toward a ball girl at the US Open sparked controversy over the weekend.

“I want to apologize to the ball girl for my behavior when she gave me the balls,” the 29-year-old Kazakhstani athlete wrote in an Instagram story on Saturday, August 31. “Honestly, it wasn’t about her. I was really mad at myself for not being able to win the match from the break point and then I was emotionally empty and deep in my thoughts so I didn’t even focus on what was going on and who was giving me the ball… All the ball girls did great as always at the Open.”

Putintseva made headlines on Saturday during her match against Jasmine Paolini of Italy. At one point, Putintseva signaled to a ball girl to throw her new balls, but she then let two balls bounce off her body before catching a third. The ball girl seemed confused by Putintseva’s reaction and stood motionless with her hands raised before running back to the sideline.

Meanwhile, the crowd booed Putintseva as she finally picked up the third ball and prepared to continue the match.

Russian-born Putintseva lost the match against 28-year-old Paolini in straight sets and is now out of the tournament. Paolini will next face Karolina Muchova in the round of 16 on Monday, September 2nd.

Former number 1 in tennis in the world Boris Becker criticized Putintseva for her behavior after the match. “Who does Putintseva think she is… Horrible behavior towards the ball girl!!!” he wrote on Sunday, September 1, about X. (Becker, 56, won the US Open in 1989.)

The most stylish stars at the 2024 US Open tennis championships: Zoey Deutch, Kerry Washington and more

Rennae Stubbsa former Australian tennis player and now coach, also criticized Putintseva on social media. “The disrespect and disgusting behavior here is unbelievable and typical of her,” she tweeted on Sunday.

Feliciano Lopeza former Spanish tennis pro and director of the Madrid Open, felt Putintseva had humiliated the ball girl. “Shame on her!!!” he tweeted. “Humiliating a ball girl is the last thing you can do on a tennis court.”

Piers Morgan also got involved in the dispute and shared a video of the incident on Sunday via X with the caption “Disgusting arrogance of @PutintsevaYulia – the ball
The girl should have thrown the third one in her mocking face.”

The US Open lasts until Sunday, September 8th.