MELBOURNE: The chair umpire for the Naomi Osaka vs Sorana Cirstea clash must take some responsibility for its frosty ending, according to ex-Australian professional John Millman.
Osaka, a two time Australian Open champion, has been the central figure of the first week of the tournament.
The 28-year-old mother is starting to get back to some of her best tennis but fashion and friction have instead been the talking points.
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Sorana Cirstea of Romania argues with Naomi Osaka of Japan at the net. Getty
The tense exchange between Osaka and Cirstea at the net was great theatre, as was the former’s on-court interview with Chanda Rubin that followed.
Cirstea took issue with Osaka yelling ‘C’mon’ in between first and second serves.
“I understand Sorana Cirstea’s point of view. However, I feel like it could have been handled just a little bit differently,” Millman said on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily.
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Chris Stubbs and John Millman on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily. Sam Worthington
“I feel like the umpire (Kelly Rask) could have addressed it during the match, so we didn’t get those scenes at the net when they shook hands. I haven’t really had that happen before, especially verbally, the ‘c’mons’.
“Naomi Osaka, she’s not a malicious person. I think that she’s known to be a very good sportswoman.
“I think there’s not really a big foul here. I think in the heat of the moment it was frustrating for Cirstea, but should have been handled a little bit differently.”
Umpire Kelly Rask looks on. Getty
Osaka won 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 at Margaret Court Arena on Thursday night to advance to a third round date with Aussie qualifier Maddison Inglis.
Inglis will have little to lose as the rank outsider and Millman said Osaka, the 16th seed from Japan, had to be wary.
“I just hope that Naomi Osaka, she can move on from it,” Millman said.
“I know the media doesn’t like to, but she needs to move on from it and get ready for her next fight. There’s always gonna be some to-ing and froing and, and things get said in the heat of the battle.
“I remember an Indian Wells with Jack Sock, who I actually deeply respect, we got into it a little bit at the handshake, but at the end of the day you move on pretty quickly.
“You calm down, you reflect, and you go, OK, I might have been in the wrong, he might have been a little bit in the wrong, and you shake hands and that’s it.”