Maria Sakkari and Yulia Putintseva were involved in a fiery exchange after their first-round match at the Bad Homburg Open, which Sakkari won in straight sets, 7–5, 7–6(6). The tension exploded during the handshake, turning a routine end-of-match moment into headline drama.
After the match ended, Putintseva gave Sakkari a cold handshake and a sarcastic bow, avoiding eye contact. Sakkari didn’t take it lightly. She immediately told Putintseva, “Just be like a human being. When you shake hands with someone, look them in the eyes.” As things got more intense, Sakkari then said, “Nobody likes you.” Putintseva, instead of responding with words, bowed again with sarcasm and walked away.
Later in her on-court interview, Sakkari confirmed the tension. She said, “I don’t think she’s going to invite me for dinner for the rest of our lives, but I don’t care.” However, she did add, “I have respect for her as a player, but that’s it.”
This isn’t the first time Putintseva has been involved in awkward post-match moments, and the latest one with Sakkari has gone viral. The dramatic finish gave fans a glimpse into how emotional and intense professional tennis can get even after the final point.
