Naomi Osaka Apologizes for On-Court Comments After Spicy Handshake With Sorana Cirstea at the Australian Open
Naomi Osaka has advanced to the third round of the Australian Open.
Follow Us
Sorana Cirstea and Naomi Osaka (via Tennis.com)
🔍 Explore this post with:
Tennis matches are usually defined by aces, rallies, and tie-breaks. But every once in a while, the real story happens at the net, in those few seconds when players shake hands. That’s exactly what went down at the Australian Open 2026, where a second-round victory for Naomi Osaka turned into a headline-grabbing moment of tension, misunderstanding, and eventually, a very public apology.
If the fans missed it, things got incredibly awkward between Osaka and her opponent, veteran Romanian player Sorana Cirstea. While Osaka walked away with the win (6-3, 4-6, 6-2), she also walked away with a heavy conscience.
Naomi Osaka initially downplayed the tension during her on-court interview amid the post-match adrenaline. In fight mode, athletes often shrug off conflicts right after competition. By press conference, after reflecting, she took accountability instead of escalating.
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 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. If she wants to talk about it, then yeah. 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.
Naomi Osaka apologizes for what she said in her on-court interview after the handshake with Sorana Cirstea, ‘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’
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 22, 2026
Naomi: “If I’m being honest, I’ve never… pic.twitter.com/NhYVfPKLI9
Osaka acknowledged that her method of self-motivation had inadvertently disregarded the person on the other side of the net. She clarified that the shouting wasn’t a tactic to distract Cirstea, but she understood why it was received that way.
The emotional context
To really understand why this blew up, the fans have to look at where Cirstea was coming from. Losing is never fun, but losing in what is likely the final appearance at a major tournament is heartbreaking. For Cirstea, the match wasn’t just about advancing to the third round; it was about saying goodbye to Melbourne Park on her own terms.
Having an opponent screaming in celebration across the net likely felt like salt in the wound. The clash highlighted a difficult balance in professional sports: the winner’s need to hype themselves up versus the loser’s need for respect in a vulnerable moment.
Naomi Osaka faces real mental hurdles as she readjusts to the tour after her break. Even for proven champions, the rapid pace of tennis intensifies the scrutiny needed to reclaim top form. Her recent Australian Open tension underscores those ongoing pressures.
Osaka has candidly shared her mental health battles and spotlight strains before. Court outbursts and high intensity often serve as her outlets under that weight. Pushing for a championship return, those emotions sometimes overflow visibly.
What’s next for Naomi Osaka?
This incident has sparked a massive debate among fans. Some say Cirstea should have had thicker skin—it’s a competition, after all. Others argue that there’s an unwritten code of conduct, especially when playing against a retiring veteran.
However, Osaka’s quick apology suggests that the “unwritten code” still matters. It shows that even in the heat of a comeback, character counts.
With the apology out in the world, the drama should (hopefully) subside. Cirstea exits the tournament to focus on her legacy, while Osaka has to refocus immediately. She advances to the third round to face Maddison Inglis. The question now is whether Osaka can channel that fire and intensity into her game without letting emotions boil over again.
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)