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Live sport on SN this weekendTempers flare as slam champ apologises for "disrespectful" act
SEN • January 23rd, 2026 9:49 am
We are preparing for Australia Day weekend at Melbourne Park and there's plenty to talk about - both on and off the court.
While the temperatures were cool on Thursday night, some players were very hot-headed.
Nick Kyrgios unleashed, Naomi Osaka appears to have inherited some jelly fish venom from her bizarre opening day outfit while Romanian veteran Sorana Cirstea had steam coming out of her ears.
Plenty to look forward to today. Sabalenka is back in action, there's a Russia-Ukraine clash coming up between Shnaider and Svitolina while in the men's Alex de Minaur is going for a fourth round spot against Frances Tiafoe.
Slam champion accused of poor sportsmanship:
Osaka and Cirstea didn't leave the court as the best of friends after the Japanese star ended the latter's Aus Open career.
Cirstea, who is in her final year of tennis, lost 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 but it was the exchange (or lack of) at the net after the match that stole the headlines.
The veteran gave Osaka the codlest of shoulders at the net and Osaka didn't let it slide.
“What was that for?”," she asked.
“For not knowing what fair play is, my friend,” Cirstea clapped back. “You’re playing for so long, and you have no idea what fair play is.”
Osaka appeared genuinely stunned by her opponent's comments and didn't try and tone it down in her immediate interview.
“Apparently a lot of ‘c’mons’ that (Cirstea) was angry about, but whatever,” Osaka said.
“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.”
“I think (the ‘c’mons were the issue), but like, she could’ve asked me (during the match). I’m sorry.”
During the match, Cirstea had asked the umpire why she was not calling Osaka out for her loud outbursts.
“This is OK? To say C’mon between points,” she asked.
To which the umpire explained that because Cirstea had not begun her serving motion there was not issue.
Asked for her thoughts after the match, Cirstea said: “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.
Osaka then issued an apology saying she had disrespected her opponent.
“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.”
