Despite being met with a frosty handshake and a telling off after her 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 second-round win at the Australian Open, Naomi Osaka was the one who ultimately found herself explaining, and apologising, or the exchange. What lingered wasn’t just the three-set battle, but the awkward net exchange and Sorana Cîrstea’s frustration over Osaka’s on-court exclamations, which Osaka later addressed calmly, insisting she never meant any disrespect.

After the match, Osaka addressed the exchange during her on-court interview when asked what it took to get past Cîrstea. “Apparently, a lot of ‘come ons’ that she was angry about,” she said. When the interviewer followed up by asking whether Cîrstea had complained about Osaka encouraging herself between the Romanian’s first and second serves, the former world No. 1 replied, “I think so, but like, she could have asked me. I’m sorry.” Osaka then added, “She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so sorry she was mad about it.”

The issue stemmed from a brief exchange at the net, where Cîrstea offered only a short handshake before confronting Osaka near the umpire’s chair. According to TV footage and post-match reports, the Romanian questioned Osaka’s sense of fair play, telling her, “You ask me why? Because, my friend, you don’t know what fair play is. You’ve been playing tennis for so long, and you don’t know what fair play is.” Cîrstea later explained that her frustration came from Osaka cheering after missed first serves, something she believed was inappropriate. Osaka revisited the incident during her post-match press conference and offered a clearer apology.

“I’m a little confused. I guess that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologise,” she said. Reflecting on her immediate on-court remarks, Osaka added, “I think the first couple of things that I said on the court were disrespectful. I don’t like disrespecting people. That’s not what I do.”

Cîrstea, however, downplayed the situation when speaking to the media, insisting it was being overblown. “It was just a five-second exchange between two players that have been on a tour for a long time. It stays between us,” she said.

She later reiterated, “I don’t think that’s the main thing after tonight’s match. It was a good match. She was much better than me towards the end. Yeah, she deserved the win.” Emphasising the broader context of her career, the 35-year-old added, “Look, this is my last Australian Open. I have been playing for 20 years. There’s more going on than a five-second discussion at the end that I had with Naomi.”

Indeed, this was the 35-year-old’s final Australian Open, as she will be retiring following the current season. And Osaka’s next opponent will be someone she has never faced in her career.

After taking 9 years old revenge, Naomi Osaka looks forward to third round

Naomi Osaka’s second-round win was actually a revenge that was pending for almost 9 years. In 2015, a 17-year-old Osaka debuted in Grand Slam qualifying at against Sorana Cirstea. While Osaka did try her best, she was defeated by the Romanian 6-2, 1-6, 4-6. After that, they did not face each other again until the 2026 Australian Open Round 2, where the Japanese has secured her win over the Romanian, and now she prepares for an unknown challenge.

In the third round, Osaka will be facing Australia’s Maddison Inglis. For the Australian, her qualifier matches have been a testament to her resilience. She fought two qualifiers till the third set, with the final game against Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch being a straight-set victory (6-4, 6-4). 

Then, in the first round, she defeated fellow Aussie Kimberly Birrell 7-6(6), 6-7(11), 6-4. However, this was an emotional match for her.

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Both of them have been the best of friends since their childhood, and reflecting on their bond, Inglis said, “It’s really hard to play such a good friend, you know. The last few days have been a bit stressful. It’s so tough. It was an amazing match with Kim. I absolutely adore her, so it was really hard to see her on the other side, but I’m stoked that I could play through those feelings and be in the second round. It means the world.”

Similarly, in the second round, she defeated Germany’s Laura Siegemund in a three-set battle 6-4, 6-7(7), 7-6(7). And now, Inglis will face Osaka in the third round. So, only time will tell if Osaka can get through this challenge and keep her hopes alive for that third Australian Open title.