Naomi Osaka called out Sorana Cirstea following a frosty handshake at the net (Image: Getty) This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Naomi Osaka’s second-round match against Sorana Cirstea hit headlines after a frosty post-match exchange. World No. 41 Cirstea took issue when Osaka pumped herself up by cheering “come on” during the third set, also saying it in between Cirstea’s first and second serves. The Romanian then hit out at Osaka during the handshake, and the two-time former champion responded in a brutal on-court interview “Apparently, a lot of ‘come-ons’ that she was angry about, but whatever…” Osaka told the Margaret Court Arena crowd. “I think this is her last Australian Open so, okay, sorry she’s mad about it.”
The No. 16 seed later apologised for being “disrespectful” but stood by her method of getting herself going by yelling “come on”. Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, has now had her say, suggesting that Osaka was in fact guilty of hindering Cirstea in between first and second serves – and shouldn’t have been surprised by Cirstea’s reaction.
Commenting on a video of the incident on Instagram, Jelena wrote: “Hmm, I’m surprised that this is not being called hindrance. In between 2 serves, when crowds are applauding or shouting, the chair ump asks not to shout between serves as it is disturbing to the player. The point is not finished. Sorana missed her first serve and is focusing on getting in the second, it is a slight pause. And is is disrespectful to applaud at someone’s first serve mistake too. I am surprised that the chair / Naomi thought that was fair?! Were there any rule changes that I missed?!”
One fan replied and told Djokovic’s wife that they saw “nothing wrong in what Naomi did”, but Jelena disagreed with the timing. “There’s nothing wrong with pumping yourself up, and that’s not even the point of this comment, sorry I wasn’t clear enough,” she explained.
“It is about when and how. She as a professional player would know that is is definitely NOT in between 1st and 2nd serve of your opponent. Unless you want to provoke. In this case, I don’t see why she is acting surprised at the end that Sorana got provoked. Naomi is being cheered on by her fans for pumping herself, great. I just didn’t see her ever doing this to another player so I thought it was a rule change or something.”
Osaka herself had been taken aback by Cirstea’s reaction during the handshake. But after her fiery on-court interview, the former world No. 1 had time to digest the incident and apologised during her post-match press conference. “I’m a little confused. I guess that emotions were very high for her. I 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,” the four-time Grand Slam champion said.
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Sorana Cirstea wasn’t happy with Naomi Osaka yelling ‘come on’ during the third set (Image: Getty)
However, Osaka herself thought Cirstea had no reason to feel frustrated with her ‘come-ons’. She added: “Like, for me, no one’s ever complained about it before. Also the umpire didn’t tell me, like, I was wrong. The umpire said I was fine. I was like, Okay. That was kind of what I thought.”
Jelena isn’t the only one who believes Osaka should reasses when she hypes herself up in her next match. After the on-court row, retired tennis legend Martina Navratilova told Tennis Channel: “I can get what she said after the match because it’s kind of in the heat of the moment, she was surprised by Cirstea’s reaction at the handshake, but you cannot be talking out loud between first and second serves of your opponent.
“Cirstea was ready to hit the second serve and Osaka said ‘come on’. That’s not right. I don’t think she does it on purpose, she doesn’t realise it. You can say ‘come on’ all you want, but keep it inside, do not verbalise it. I don’t think she did it on purpose, but sometimes you just have to say less.”
Former world No. 1 Lindsay Davenport agreed and thought Osaka may stop her vocal celebrations in time for her third-round match against Aussie qualifier Maddison Inglis. The American replied: “Osaka iss 28 years of age, she’s played tennis for a long time, it’s just something you don’t really do.
“You’re not supposed to make noise between the first and second serves. Osaka did it in her opening-round match, no one said anything. We all know Osaka doesn’t have a mean bone in her body, so I would be surprised if she continued with that behaviour. You can pump yourself by hitting your thigh, you can’t yell out in between serves. Basic tennis etiquette 101. I have a feeling that she’ll stop now.”
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