Public Reaction and Apology
faced backlash and boos from the audience after ignoring a ball girl's attempts to hand her balls during a match at the , leading to widespread criticism from former tennis professionals and fans alike.
Following the incident, Putintseva apologized on social media, clarifying that her frustration was directed at her performance rather than the ball girl, and acknowledged the excellent work of all ball kids at the tournament.
Match Outcome and Further Context
Putintseva's conduct occurred during her third-round match against , which she lost in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.
Despite the controversy, Putintseva received $215,000 in prize money for reaching the third round, while Paolini advanced to the fourth round of the tournament.