Naomi Osaka is rarely associated with post-match tension, but the script changed after her Australian Open win over Sorana Cirstea, which ended with a frosty handshake and sharp words from the Romanian. As emotions cooled and the moment passed, the former world No. 1 chose grace, issuing an apology as the dust settled on an unusually heated exchange.

At her post-match press conference, Naomi Osaka was questioned on whether she wanted to address the on-court confrontation or simply move on. Osaka responded honestly and admitted her confusion about the situation.

“If I’m being honest, I’ve never been involved in something like this before. I don’t know if we’re supposed to leave it on the court and be like ‘Hey.. how you doing?’ I’m a little confused,” she said, explaining how unfamiliar the moment felt.

She then acknowledged Cirstea’s emotions and took responsibility for her own words. “But I get that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologize. I think the first couple things I said on the court were disrespectful. I don’t like disrespecting people. That’s not what I do.”

Osaka clarified that her intensity was never meant to affect her opponent. “When I’m pumping myself up, in my head, I’m not like ‘Okay, and now I’m gonna distract the other person.’ It’s purely for me,” she explained.

Even earlier in the press conference, Osaka reflected on the handshake itself. She was reminded that it was her first dramatic on-court exchange. “I just thought that that was like I was like, “Huh, that’s interesting.” And that was my exact thought in my head,” she said.

When asked if she sensed Cirstea’s frustration during the match, Osaka was clear. “I’ve never like no one’s ever complained about it before.” She also addressed her vocal celebrations, adding, “also the umpire didn’t tell me like I was wrong. Like the umpire said I was fine. So I was like, “Okay.” And that was kind of what I thought. Like I thought we moved past it.”

The key confrontation unfolded late in the deciding set. Sorana Cirstea was serving at 2-4, 30-30 in the third set. Tension rose quickly in a critical moment.

Cirstea objected to Naomi Osaka shouting “c’mon” to herself. The shout came between the Romanian’s first and second serves. She felt it broke her concentration.

The Romanian raised the issue with the chair umpire. She believed Osaka’s celebration was distracting and disruptive to her rhythm. However, the umpire did not uphold the complaint.

Play resumed without interruption. Osaka stayed composed and closed out the match. She secured a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory on Margaret Court Arena.

After the final point, Osaka walked to the net smiling. She prepared for the usual post-match handshake. The atmosphere, however, remained tense.

Cirstea offered a brief, cold handshake. She exchanged a few words with Osaka near the umpire’s chair. 

And as Osaka apologized, Cirstea also walked the same path, choosing to focus on what may be her final Australian Open appearance rather than the confrontation.

Sorana Cirstea speaks on post-match confrontation with Naomi Osaka

Sorana Cirstea, 35, announced last month that she will retire at the end of the 2026 season. The decision will bring an end to a 20-year career on the WTA Tour. 

Her Australian Open match against Naomi Osaka was their first meeting on tour. Despite both players competing professionally for many years, they had never crossed paths in a match before. The occasion added an extra layer of intrigue.

During her post-match press conference, Cirstea was asked about her expectations before facing Osaka. She brushed aside any concern about playing a new opponent. “I don’t stress too much if it’s someone that I haven’t played before. I have a lot of experience. I’ve been on tour for such a long time. I can adapt to any kind of game. So for me it’s really no issue if I play someone new.”

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Attention then shifted to the tense moment after the match. Cirstea had appeared visibly unhappy at the net. When asked about it, she played it down. “No, all good. It’s we just had a chat. Nothing big. Again I don’t think that’s the main thing after tonight’s match. It was again a good match.”

Reporters tried to push further. They asked whether Osaka’s celebrations, including her vocal “come on,” had crossed a line. Cirstea chose not to engage.

“I will not talk about that. Look, this is my last Australian Open. I’ve been playing for 20 years and I think it’s a bit more going on than just a 5 seconds discussion at the end that I’ve had with with Naomi.”

Her response shifted the focus back to the bigger picture. For Cirstea, the match carried more meaning than a brief exchange at the net. It was another chapter near the end of a long career.

As the dust settles, Cirstea will now turn her attention forward. She is expected to focus on the upcoming North American hard-court swing.

Meanwhile, Naomi Osaka moves on in Melbourne. She will face Maddison Inglis next. Inglis recently defeated fellow Australian Kimberly Birrell in an emotional contest.

With momentum on the line, the upcoming clash promises intrigue. The question now is simple. Who will come out on top?