Superstar Naomi Osaka has secured her place in the third round of the Australian Open following a frosty and hard-fought win over Sorana Cirstea on Thursday night.
Match Details and Tense Atmosphere
In a match that mirrored her first-round performance, Osaka dropped the second set but rallied to claim victory with a final score of 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. The encounter was marked by high tension, which boiled over immediately after the final point was played.
Post-Match Confrontation at the Net
While the pair did shake hands, the gesture was anything but friendly. Cirstea stared down Osaka without uttering a word, prompting Osaka to appear to inquire about what was wrong. This led to a heated conversation, with the Romanian player reportedly stating, "You don't know what fair play is." In response, Osaka rolled her eyes and smiled in disbelief at the unfolding situation.
On-Court Frustrations and Complaints
The root of the tension stemmed from Cirstea's frustration with Osaka's habit of saying "c'mon" to herself during returns in the third set. At one point, Cirstea complained to the umpire after hearing Osaka utter the phrase between her first and second serves, highlighting the competitive intensity of the match.
Osaka's Post-Match Comments
In her on-court interview, Osaka briefly addressed the frosty incident, stating, "Apparently a lot of c'mons that she was angry about, but whatever." This remark drew an interesting reaction from the crowd. She added, "I tried to play well. I think I hit a lot of unforced errors but I tried my best. She's a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so ... I'm sorry she was mad about it."
When the interviewer clarified that Cirstea's complaint centered on the "c'mons" between serves, Osaka confirmed, "yeah I think so," and noted, "But like, she could've asked me. Like ... I'm sorry."
More updates are expected as the tournament progresses.
