Osaka apologises for ‘disrespecting’ Cirstea

After receiving a frosty handshake and a telling-off from the Romanian, Naomi Osaka apologized for “disrespecting” Sorana Cirstea in her post-game on-court interview.

A jubilant Osaka made her way to the net to complete the post-match formalities following her 6-3, 4-6, and 6-2 victory over Cirstea in the Australian Open second round.

Cirstea, however, exchanged a brief handshake with the Japanese 16th seed before moving into conversation.

Osaka reportedly had a lot of “come ons” that she was upset about when asked in her on-court interview what it took to get past Cirstea.

The interviewer then inquired if Cirstea was making a complaint because she could hear Osaka trying to get her through the first and second serves of the Romanian.

“I believe so, but she might have questioned me,” she said. Osaka, the former world number one, apologized, “I’m sorry.

She excels as a player. I’m sorry, but I believe this was her final Australian Open.

Osaka apologized in a later press conference for some of her comments toward Cirstea, who will retire from tennis at the end of the 2026 campaign after 20 years on the WTA Tour.

“I’m a little perplexed. I suppose she had a lot of emotions going for her. The four-time major winner added, “I also want to apologize.”

“I believe the first few things I said on the court were disrespectful,” I thought. I dislike treating others badly. I don’t do that, I do.

Cirstea claimed there was “no drama” between her and Osaka, though.

“It was just a five-second exchange between two experienced tour players.” Cirstea, 35, said that it stays with us.

She made the decision to leave the white hat and veil behind and also arrived without the white umbrella, but some fans were still trying to imitate the already conventional look.

Osaka referred to her outfit as “just something fun that I like to do on the court.”

I don’t really talk a lot, but I do like to express myself through clothing, and I’m so glad you guys enjoyed it.

Osaka hopes to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open for the first time since 2021 when she won the event for the second time.

Nikola Bartunkova, a Czech teenager, defeated Belinda Bencic, the tournament’s top seed, in the biggest upset thus far.

After recovering from a second-set bagel, Bartunkova, who made her Grand Slam debut, came to her knees to avenge a remarkable 6-3,0-6,6-4 victory over the Swiss former Olympic champion.

Bencic becomes the top female draw member after suffering her first defeat of the season after six straight victories.

When Bartunkova takes on Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the third round, she will hope to shock everyone.

Madison Keys, the defending champion, defeated Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 7-5 on Thursday, while Jessica Pegula, the country’s sixth seed, needed just 58 minutes to defeat McCartney Kessler, who lost to her doubles partner, 6 (6).