Osaka won 6-3 4-6 6-2 to defeat the 35-year-old Romanian, who was playing in her final Australian Open before retirement. <\/p>\n
A fuming Cirstea stormed away from Osaka after a brief handshake at the net, before turning around to exchange words with the former world No 1. <\/p>\n
Osaka was baffled by the confrontation and brought it up immediately during her on-court interview, even though she was not directly asked about the incident. <\/p>\n
Asked what it took to advance to the third round, Osaka replied: \u201cApparently a lot of \u2018come-ons\u2019 as that\u2019s what she was angry about but whatever.\u201d <\/p>\n
It drew a mixed reaction from the crowd and Osaka added: \u201cI mean, I tried to play well. I think I made a lot of unforced errors but I tried my best. She\u2019s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so, sorry she\u2019s mad about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cirstea was frustrated by Osaka saying \u201ccome-on\u201d to pump herself up between serves and when this was pointed out to her during the on-court interview, an exasperated Osaka replied: \u201cI think so, but she could have asked me.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI281781753.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
(AFP via Getty Images)![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI281781703.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
(REUTERS)<\/p>\n
Serving down 4-2, 30-30 in the third set, Cirstea spoke to the umpire after Osaka had appeared to say \u201ccome on, come on\u201d after the Romanian had found the net with her first serve. <\/p>\n
\u201cIs that okay? To do come-ons between points?\u201d Cirstea asked the umpire. \u201cSo I can talk between points? Yeah, can I go \u2018come-on\u2019?\u201d <\/p>\n
But it led to a lapse in concentration from the world No 41, who missed a forehand long on the very next point, then blasted another forehand out to go down a double-break. That was greeted by a much louder \u201ccome-on\u201d from Osaka. <\/p>\n
Cirstea was beginning to boil over in the final game of the match, as she began to swing even harder for the ball. When Osaka won match point, she celebrated with another shout of \u201ccome-on\u201d before walking to the net for the hand-shake. <\/p>\n
Afterwards, Cirstea said did not want the incident to overshadow her 18th and final year at the Australian Open, where she reached the fourth round in 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just had a chat. Nothing big. Again, I don’t think that’s the main thing after tonight match. Again, it was a good match. She was much better than me towards the end. Yeah, she deserved the win. So that’s all I will say.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, this is my last Australian Open. I have been playing for 20 years. It’s more than a five-second discussion at the end that I had with Naomi. This is my last Australian Open and so I think the moments are bigger to me than to talk about a five-second chat I had with Naomi at the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no drama. It was just a five-second exchange between two players that have been on a tour for a long time. It stays between us. For me this was my last match at the Australian Open, so I think I’ll like to stay with that.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Cirstea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI281783016.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
Cirstea waves to the crowd as she leaves the court (AFP\/Getty)<\/p>\n
Osaka said she would apologise to Cirstea for the comments she made during her on-court interview. \u201cFor me, no one’s ever complained about it before,\u201d she said. \u201cAlso the umpire didn’t tell me I was wrong. The umpire said I was fine. That was kind of what I thought. I thought we moved past it. <\/p>\n
\u201cI’ve never been involved in something like this before, so 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. I guess that emotions were very high for her. <\/p>\n
\u201cI also want to apologise. I think the first couple things that I said on the court was disrespectful. I don’t like disrespecting people. That’s not what I do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, if she wants to talk about it, then yeah. But when I’m pumping myself up, in my head I’m not like, now I’m going to distract the other person. It’s purely for me.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"Osaka](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI281781683.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/p>\n
Osaka said she would apologise to Cirstea for the comments she made during her on-court interview (Getty Images)<\/p>\n