While most professional players pride themselves on respect and sportsmanship, the 2024 season also featured moments that drew criticism from within the tennis community. On the Nothing Major podcast, former ATP players Steve Johnson and Jack Sock discussed which competitor stirred the most controversy this year, and both pointed to Yulia Putintseva.
Johnson’s criticism of Putintseva’s behavior
Johnson did not hesitate when naming the Kazakh player as the one who stood out for the wrong reasons. He referenced an incident in which Putintseva appeared to ignore a ball kid attempting to hand her balls during a match. “It’s Yulia Putintseva, she always seems to be in controversy,” Johnson said. He added that her treatment of the young volunteer crossed a line. “She got the staring at the ball kid; you don’t do anything to the ball people. Ball kids, ball adults, you’ve got to treat them fully with respect, you can’t dog those people while you’re out on the court. I don’t like that.”
The moment sparked broader discussion online, including from former Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, who publicly criticized Putintseva’s behavior and urged her to reconsider how she interacts with those working on court.
Sock highlights another questionable tactic
Jack Sock added his own example, pointing to a pattern he claims to have noticed involving Putintseva’s shoelaces. According to Sock, she sometimes packs her laces into her bag after losing a game, then later slides toward a ball and claims the lace has broken at a crucial moment. While gamesmanship exists in many forms across the sport, Sock suggested that this particular tactic pushes the boundaries of fair play.
Will the criticism lead to change
Whether these public comments will influence Putintseva’s future behavior remains uncertain. Athletes often respond differently to scrutiny—some adjust, while others double down. What is clear is that such incidents shape how players are perceived by fans, peers and tournament staff.
A divided reaction from the tennis world
Not everyone views these antics negatively. Some argue that tennis benefits from a touch of controversy, believing that colorful personalities and unexpected moments add entertainment value and keep audiences engaged. Others insist that respect and professionalism should remain non‑negotiable.
Ugly moment in the Putintseva vs Paolini match at the US Open.
The ball girl tries tossing the ball and Yulia watches it bounce on the ground without moving.
So many ball kids look up to these athletes. Let's try to treat them kinder.
(via @MerThomp)pic.twitter.com/WaVzNcbb6R
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 1, 2024
Yulia Putintseva in 2025
WWWWLWWLWL At the moment ranked no.71, Putintseva played her last match on the 31st of October when she was defeated by world no.68 Viktorija Golubic 7-5 6-2 in the quarter in Jiujiang (draw).
This year Yulia has achieved a composed 25-27 record. Yulia Putintseva’s best achievement of this season was reaching the semifinal in Adelaide.
