New Delhi, Jan. 22 -- Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the Australian Open 2026 with a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Romania's Sorana Cirstea on Margaret Court Arena. The match, however, ended on a sour note with a frosty handshake and brief words exchanged at the net. Cirstea, playing in what she confirmed as her final Australian Open before retiring at the end of the 2026 season after 20 years on the WTA Tour, appeared upset during the encounter.

The tension stemmed from Osaka's vocal encouragement to herself, including "come ons" between Cirstea's first and second serves. Cirstea had raised the issue with the umpire late in the third set and addressed it directly with Osaka post-match.

In her immediate on-court int...