Yulia Putintseva has publicly apologised for a second time after taking her frustration out on a ball girl at the US Open. The 29-year-old has faced a significant backlash as a result of her unpleasant behaviour during her match against Jasmine Paolini last Friday.

In a video which has since gone viral, Putintseva responded to a lost point by staring down and ignoring the balls offered by the ball girl. She let balls bounce off her in contempt before eventually taking one, sparking audible groans from spectators.

Putintseva has since released a second apology, taking to Instagram to double down on her excuse that she did not notice what was happening.

She wrote: “It’s kind of scary the way world can judge someone from just a three second video, that someone posts from one side, without seeing the rest on what was really happening.

“I was just playing tennis and lost a tough game, which was very close (in my opinion) to turn that match around. After the game I got very much disappointed and was almost crying that I didn’t do better.

“At this time the girl was giving me the ball, which I didn’t even notice or so, because I was deep in my thoughts. I was not trying to humiliate her (or anyone) by not taking this ball that she was given to me.

“I didn’t do anything disrespectful to anyone at this particular moment. I do apologise if this girl thinks that it was something towards her. I can’t say that I am perfect all my career.”