By Uche Amako
A Wimbledon warm-up event turned ugly as former world No 3 Maria Sakkari told Yulia Putintseva that “nobody likes you” at the end of the match.
Sakkari reached the second round after completing a 7-5, 7-6 victory at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany. As the players shook hands, Putintseva was quick to take her hand away, angering Sakkari.
Putintseva then mocked Sakkari by pretending to curtsy, which the latter took exception to, saying: “Respect me like a human being.” Putintseva fired back as she walked back to her chair: “I was being like a human being. Look at yourself.”
Sakkari asked Putintseva to repeat what she said, and the two exchanged more words before Putintseva told Sakkari to “leave her alone.”
Sakkari appeared ready to walk away, saying “f—— hell” but after hearing another comment from Putintseva, she hit back again, repeatedly telling her: “Nobody likes you” and adding: “When you shake hands, look at the other person in the eye.”
The match umpire eventually stepped in, saying: “Ladies, please”. However, Putintseva performed another bow for Sakkari and walked off the court.
Maria Sakkari plays a backhand against Yulia Putintseva.Credit: Getty Images
It represented the latest on-court flashpoint involving Putintseva after she was slammed last year for showing “disrespect” to a ball girl at the US Open.
With Putintseva a set and 4-2 down to Jasmine Paolini, the girl attempted to throw balls towards the Russia-born player from Kazakhstan before she took serve. But the player did not attempt to catch or pick up the ball; instead glaring at the girl with her arms down by her side.
Yulia Putintseva has drawn criticism before for her on-court behaviour.Credit: Getty Images
Australia’s three-time grand slam doubles champion Rennae Stubbs wrote at the time: “The disrespect and obnoxious behaviour here is unbelievable and typical from her.”
Putintseva later apologised for her behaviour towards the ball girl and said she was “pissed off at myself for not winning the game.”
London Daily Telegraph
