Boris Becker has sharply criticized a player at the US Open for her “terrible behavior” towards a ball girl.

Yulia Putintseva’s frustration was palpable during her third-round loss to Jasmine Paolini at the US Open.

The Kazakh player had lost the first set and was trailing 2-4 in the second set when an awkward moment occurred when a ball girl tried to throw balls to her before she could serve.

Putintseva stared blankly at the ball girl, arms hanging at her sides, making no attempt to catch the balls, instead just watching them roll away from her feet.

The 29-year-old has since apologized on social media for her behavior, which was met with boos from the crowd in Flushing Meadows.

Ignoring the ball girl’s attempts to throw the balls to her, Yulia Putintseva allowed the first ball to hit her upper body (left), while the second one bounced off her feet and rolled away (right).

Putintseva did not acknowledge the ball girl as she caught the third ball, as the young girl held out her arms almost in disbelief at what had just happened

Putintseva, 29, was later criticised for her “terrible behaviour” towards the ball girl

Former US Open champion Boris Becker criticizes Putintseva’s behavior on social media

Putintseva has since apologized for her behavior on social media, saying she was “mad” at herself at the time of the match as it happened during a straight-set loss.

Becker, who won the US Open in 1989, wrote in response to a video of the moment on social media: “What does Putintseva think she is doing… terrible behavior towards the ball girl.”

His tweet was a response to a tweet about an “ugly moment” during the game.

Piers Morgan also spoke out on social media and sharply criticized Putintseva’s “disgusting arrogance.”

He wrote: “Disgusting arrogance from @PutintsevaYulia – the ball girl should have thrown the third one in her mocking face.”

After her straight-set loss, Putintseva wrote on social media: “I want to apologize to the ball girl for my behavior when she gave me balls.”

“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 so emotionally empty and lost in thought that I didn’t even focus on what was going on and who was giving me the ball.

“All the ball boys did a great job at the Open as always.”

Three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs posted: “The disrespect and disgusting behavior here is unbelievable and typical of her.”

The first ball that the young girl wanted to pass to Putintseva was ignored by the Kazakh player and instead allowed to bounce off her upper body.

Boris Beckier and Piers Morgan were among the prominent names who attacked Putintseva

Jasmine Paolini defeated the Kazakh player in two sets and reached the fourth round

Her second attempt to throw the ball to the player was again ignored as it bounced off Putintseva’s feet – and the player turned her head to see the ball rolling away from her.

Then there were loud boos against Putintseva, who caught the third ball without paying attention to the ball girl.

Then Putintseva tried to grab one of the balls, which she had previously ignored because the ball girl had her arms outstretched.

When Putintseva returned to the baseline, she took no notice of the ball girl. In the footage, the ball girl could be seen returning to her seat with a wry smile and shaking her head at what had just happened.

Putintseva won only two more games, while fifth-seeded Paolini easily advanced to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4 win.