Icy Naomi Osaka handshake drama as sportsmanship storm erupts

The Japanese star progressed through to the third round with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win over Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea.

TV cameras showed Cirstea gave Osaka a cold shoulder as they met at the net after Osaka won match point before the 28-year-old called her opponent back by asking, “What was that for?”.

“For not knowing what fair play is, my friend,” Cirstea responded as they walked towards the umpire.

“You’re playing for so long, and you have no idea what fair play is.”

Clearly surprised, Osaka smiled in exasperation before briefly shaking her head as she walked back onto the centre of the court to wave to the crowd.

With emotions running high, Osaka told it how it was in her on-court interview.

“Apparently a lot of ‘c’mons’ that (Cirstea) was angry about, but whatever,” Osaka said after the match.

“She’s a great player, I think this was her last Australian Open … she was mad about it.

“I think (the ‘c’mons were the issue), but like, she could’ve asked me (during the match). I’m sorry.”

A clip has now emerged that appear to challenge Osaka’s version of events with Cirstea heard complaining to the umpire about her behaviour.

One video going viral on X showed Osaka shouting, “C’mon, come on” after Cirstea served a fault.

Hearing Osaka talk in between her serves clearly irked Cirstea, who told the umpire about it.

“This is OK? To say C’mon between points,” she asked.

The chair umpire did not say anything to Osaka as Cirstea again asked the official if Osaka was allowed to talk between her serves.

The chair umpire explained that there was no hindrance to Cirstea because Osaka spoke before she had begun her service motion.

While Osaka was not cautioned by the chair umpire, tennis fans on social media have questioned if Osaka really was aware of why her opponent was frustrated.

“It’s not very clear who says “C’mon” between serves, but if it’s Osaka then Sorana is right, that’s very poor sportsmanship from Osaka,” tennis commentator Lorena Pope wrote on X when sharing a video of the incident that has been viewed ore than four million times.

The comment has sparked a storm of debate about Osaka’s sportsmanship when speaking in between her opponent’s serves.

Cirstea, in her 18th and final Australian Open, having announced 2026 will be her final season, insisted it was no big deal.

“There was no drama. It was just a five-second exchange between two players that have been on tour for a long time. It stays between us,” she said.

Pressed further on whether Osaka’s shouts of “c’mon” had bothered her, she refused to be drawn.

“I will not talk about that,” she said.

“Look, this is my last Australian Open, I’ve been playing for 20 years, and I think it’s a bit more going on than just a five-second discussion at the end that I’ve had with Naomi.”

Osaka was more reserved when speaking with reporters during her post-match press conference, but said Cirstea’s handshake was not something she had experienced before.

“I get that emotions were very high for (Cirstea), and I also want to apologise ... I think the first couple of things I said on court (after the match) were disrespectful,” Osaka said.

“I don’t like disrespecting people ... that’s not what I do. When I’m pumping myself up, in my head, I’m not like, ‘OK, I’m going to distract the other person’. It’s purely for me.”

She said earlier in the press conference: “I’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 belike, ‘Hey, how you doing’?

“I’m a little confused. I guess that emotions were very high for her.”

The two-time Aussie Open champ will face Australia’s 168th-ranked Maddison Inglis in the third round.

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