Maria Sakkari, Yulia Putintseva have heated post-match moment before Wimbledon
Share and Follow

There is no love lost between Maria Sakkari and Yulia Putintseva. 

The tennis rivals got into a heated argument after facing off at the Bad Homburg Open in Germany on Sunday, with Sakkari saying to Putintseva: “Nobody likes you.”

The incident began when the pair shook hands following Sakkari’s 7-5, 7-6 (6) win in the first round of the tournament, a grass court tune-up for Wimbledon.

There were clear tensions during the clash, and Sakkari was seemingly furious that Putintseva did not look her in the eye while shaking hands and said something to her opponent about it. 

That initiated a vigorous back-and-forth, with Putintseva offering Sakkari an incredibly sarcastic curtsy. 

As both players went to shake hands with the umpire, Sakkari told Putintseva she should’ve made eye contact “like a human being,” to which a clearly frustrated Putintseva replied: “I was a human being – look at yourself.”

Sakkari walked over to Putintseva’s bench and inaudible arguing ensued, with Sakkari eventually muttering “f–king hell” and then repeating “nobody likes you” after some more back and forth. 

Finally, the umpire butted in, saying, “Ladies, please,” before Putintseva eventually left the court. 

It’s unclear what prompted the no-look handshake from Putintseva, a 30-year-old from Kazakhstan, or if the whole situation was a major overreaction from Sakkari, a 29-year-old from Greece. 

“I don’t think she’s going to invite me for dinner for the rest of our lives, but I don’t care,” Sakkari said afterwards to the on-court interviewer. “I have very good friends and I’ll go to dinner with them. Let me leave it here, and just say that I have respect for her as a player, but that’s it.”

Sakkari has been ranked as high as the world No. 3 by WTA, and she is currently ranked No. 85. Putintseva is ranked No. 34.

“By the way — not that I care — I shook her hand as most women do,” Putintseva posted over a photo of herself on an Instagram Story. “Clearly not according to the ‘hugging protocol’ some men seem to follow.”

Sakkari will play Ekaterina Alexandrova in the next round as she gets ready for Wimbledon, which kicks off June 30.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Ghislaine Maxwell to testify before House committee investigating handling of Epstein case

Ghislaine Maxwell Set to Appear Before House Committee in Epstein Case Investigation

Ghislaine Maxwell, who has been convicted as an accomplice to Jeffrey Epstein,…
Trial of NJ tech boss accused of murdering brother takes ‘Sopranos’-like turn

NJ Tech Executive’s Murder Trial Unveils Shocking ‘Sopranos’-Style Twist

A sound he couldn’t ignore reverberated in his mind. The courtroom drama…
Luigi Mangione case: If stalking and assault aren’t ‘crimes of violence,’ death penalty vanishes

Luigi Mangione Case: Legal Definitions of Stalking and Assault Could Impact Death Penalty Eligibility

Luigi Mangione’s legal outcome might be influenced by a procedural nuance, as…
2 hikers in Olympic National Forest killed after tree falls on popular trail

Tragic Accident in Olympic National Forest: Falling Tree Claims Lives of Two Hikers on Beloved Trail

Last week, a tragic incident occurred in Washington state’s Olympic National Forest,…
Ex-MSNBC star faces embarrassing accusations from former colleague

Former MSNBC Anchor Entangled in Controversy Amid Allegations from Ex-Colleague

Allegations have surfaced against former MSNBC anchor Chuck Todd, centering on his…
Nanny affair case turns emotional as alleged killer husband watches bodycam video

Emotional Tensions Rise in Court as Husband Views Nanny Affair Bodycam Footage

On Wednesday, Brendan Banfield displayed visible emotion during his court appearance, as…
REAL reason the Beckhams hate 'childlike' Nicola Peltz

Unveiling Tensions: Why the Beckhams Reportedly Disapprove of ‘Childlike’ Nicola Peltz

Brooklyn Beckham has officially severed ties with his family, a move he…
Good Samaritan stops Florida maniac attacking child with knife at school bus stop after jail release: police

Heroic Bystander Intervenes to Prevent Knife Attack on Child at Florida Bus Stop Following Suspect’s Jail Release: Police Report

In a disturbing incident at a school bus stop in Florida, a…