Naomi Osaka ended Sorana Cirstea’s farewell to the Australian Open in a tense 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win at Margaret Court Arena on Thursday night. Cirstea’s parting shot was at the net.
The pair barely exchanged a handshake over the net, with Cirstea glancing in Osaka’s direction briefly and then turning her head away.
As they walked toward the umpire’s chair, Osaka asked: «What was that for?»
Cirstea responded directly to the two-time Australian Open winner, apparently upset with Osaka’s efforts to pump herself up during the match.
Antonia Ruzic.
The No. 16-seeded Osaka didn’t make quite the same entrance this time, dispensing with the couture wide-brimmed hat, veil and parasol but still wearing the jellyfish-inspired dress, a matching warmup jacket in the same blue and green aquatic hues, and a visor.
«Just something fun I like to do on the court. I like to express myself through clothes,» Osaka said of her prematch walk-on designs, adding, «I’m really glad that you love it.»
Looking up at two women in the crowd who had replicas of the wide-brimmed hat and veil that she wore for her walk-on in the previous match, Osaka told them, «You guys look really cool, by the way.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
