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Osaka, Cirstea clash: Frosty handshake after match
22 Jan
Summary
- Naomi Osaka defeated Sorana Cirstea in a tense Australian Open match.
- Cirstea gave Osaka a cold handshake and exchanged words post-match.
- Osaka suggested Cirstea was upset by her on-court 'come ons'.
Naomi Osaka secured a place in the Australian Open third round after a hard-fought victory over Romania's Sorana Cirstea. The match concluded with a notable display of tension.
Upon shaking hands at the net, Cirstea gave Osaka a brief, cold handshake and appeared to exchange words with the Japanese player. In a subsequent on-court interview, Osaka attributed the tension to Cirstea's reaction to her vocal encouragements during the match.
Osaka expressed regret that Cirstea was upset, acknowledging her opponent's strong playing ability. Cirstea, 35, is slated to retire from professional tennis at the conclusion of the 2026 season, marking the end of a two-decade career.
