‘I Don’t Like Disrespecting People’

Naomi Osaka’s latest match at the Australian Open was engulfed in controversy because Sorana Cirstea was not feeling Osaka’s self-motivation tactics on court, but Osaka apologized after the victory.

“I guess that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologize,” Osaka said after her 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 second-round victory. “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.”

Cirstea, a 35-year-old from Romania playing in her final Australian Open, was upset that Osaka, the four-time major champion, was shouting “C’mon” in between Cirstea’s first and second serves to get herself pumped up.

“Apparently a lot of ‘c’mons’ that she was angry about, but whatever,” Osaka said in her on-court interview. “I mean, I tried to play well, I tried my best. She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open, so, OK, sorry she was mad about it.”

Osaka got emotional when asked to clarify why the tensions heightened, saying, “She could have asked me [to stop].”

“Honestly … no one’s ever complained about it before,” she said. “Also, the umpire didn’t tell me I was wrong. The umpire said I was fine. Like, I thought we moved past it.”

After the match, the two exchanged a cursory handshake with Cirstea barely glancing in Osaka’s direction.

As they walked toward the umpire’s chair, Osaka asked: “What was that for?

Cirstea responded, and Osaka turned toward the crowd with an awkward smile.

After the match Cirstea said it was not a 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,” she said. “It stays between us.”

(The AP contributed reporting)