Naomi Osaka secured a fiery second-round triumph at the Australian Open, overcoming Sorana Cirstea 6-3 4-6 6-2 in a contest that concluded with an uncomfortable exchange between the two players.
The four-time Grand Slam winner, who claimed the Melbourne title in both 2019 and 2021, fought back after dropping the second set to the Romanian.
However, the post-match handshake proved notably frosty, with Cirstea offering only a fleeting glance towards Osaka before turning away.
The tension appeared to stem from Cirstea's displeasure at Osaka's vocal self-encouragement throughout the encounter.
As the pair made their way towards the umpire's chair, Osaka questioned the cold reception, asking: "What was that for?"
Cirstea responded directly to the Japanese star, making clear her frustration with Osaka's repeated efforts to motivate herself during points.
The two-time Melbourne champion subsequently addressed the situation in her televised courtside interview.
Naomi Osaka was bemused by Sorana Cirstea's conduct at the Australian Open
|REUTERS
"Apparently a lot of 'C'mons' that she was angry about but whatever," Osaka explained.]
"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."
When pressed on why the situation had escalated, Osaka offered a straightforward response: "She could have asked me to stop."
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Five facts for tennis fans | GETTY/PAFollowing the tense conclusion, Osaka turned back to acknowledge the Melbourne crowd with a wave.
The Japanese player had generated significant attention before her opening match on Rod Laver Arena with a striking fashion choice that quickly spread across social media.
For her second-round clash on one of Melbourne Park's secondary show courts, Osaka opted against the wide-brimmed hat, veil and parasol from her debut appearance, though she retained the jellyfish-inspired Nike dress in blue and green aquatic tones, pairing it with a matching warm-up jacket and visor.
Meanwhile, defending champion Madison Keys also progressed to the third round, defeating fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1 7-5 in a match that saw the 30-year-old's form fluctuate considerably.
The world No 9 dispatched the opening set in just 23 minutes, striking seven winners and converting every break point opportunity against her younger compatriot.
Naomi Osaka was thrilled after reaching the third round of the Australian Open
|REUTERS
Yet the second set proved far more troublesome, with Keys surrendering her serve twice through a series of double faults, allowing the 21-year-old Krueger to establish a three-game advantage.
Keys ultimately steadied herself, reeling off five consecutive games to seal victory.
"Once I kind of got that momentum, I tried to sink my teeth into the set, and do whatever I could to get back into it," she said.
Iga Swiatek is also through to the third round after beating Marie Bouzková.