“You’re not serving yet. So it’s not a hindrance to you. So this was okay,” the chair umpire told Cirstea.
“Yeah, I will not talk about that. Look, this is my last Australian Open. I’ve been playing for 20 years, and I think there’s a bit more going on than just a five-second discussion at the end that I’ve had with Naomi. This was my last Australian Open. So yeah, I think the moment’s a little bit bigger for me than right now to talk about the five-second chat that I had with Naomi at the end,” Cirstea said.
“No, there was no drama. It was just a five-second exchange between two players who have been on a tour for a long time. It stays between us. I don’t think that’s… Again, for me, this was my last match of the Australian Open. So I think I’d like to stay with that,” she added.
Sorana Cirstea Admitted That Naomi Osaka Finished the Match At a Higher Level Than Herself
This was the first meeting between the two highly experienced players, despite being on the WTA Tour for many years. While Cirstea said she was unfazed by facing the Japanese star for the first time at such a big stage, she admitted that Osaka raised her game well towards the end, which ultimately led to Osaka’s win.
“Yeah, it was a tough match. I had my chances in the first set. I started good to love, I think 30 love or something in that game. A couple of chances that I didn’t take, and then, of course, at this level, things change very, very quickly. I was quite happy with the level in the second set, especially towards the end,” Cirstea said at the same presser.
“But then, yeah, couldn’t really keep it. There were those long breaks, long break once at all, long break to one, broke the rhythm completely. And towards the end, I didn’t manage to do what I was supposed to do. And she finished much better, and towards the end, she played much better than I,” she added.
While Cirstea heads back home, Osaka will be in action next for her third-round match against Maddison Inglis on Saturday.
Also read:
Novak Djokovic Reveals Real Reason Behind Family’s Absence At Australian Open 2026
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
