Naomi Osaka battles past Sorana Cirstea to reach the third round and end the Romanian’s final Australian Open campaign
Naomi Osaka secured her place in the round of 32 at the Australian Open on Thursday night with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Sorana Cirstea, a match defined by late drama and an icy handshake.
Naomi Osaka and Sorana Cirstea, Australian Open 2026 | © Tennis Australia
The No 16 seed Naomi Osaka overcame a stern physical and mental test to reach the third round for the eighth time in her career. The 28-year-old Japanese star utilized her trademark power to navigate a fractious deciding set against the 35-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who had announced that the 2026 season would be the 20th and final year of her professional journey.
Osaka’s victory follows a similarly grueling opening round where she edged out Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, proving the two-time champion has regained the match toughness required for a deep Grand Slam run. Cirstea, currently ranked No 41, reached the second round after a comeback win against Germany’s Eva Lys 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 but found herself unable to maintain the same momentum against Osaka.
The match reached a boiling point in the third set at 4-2, 40-40, when Cirstea voiced her frustration to the umpire regarding the timing of Osaka’s vocal celebrations between serves. The tension translated into a frosty exchange at the net, marking the conclusion of Cirstea’s final appearance at Melbourne Park.
Friction on court and a tense farewell for Cirstea
The post-match atmosphere was dominated by the mid-match drama and Cirstea’s visible annoyance at the net. During her on-court interview, Osaka addressed the confrontation with characteristic directness. When asked what it took to get through the three-set battle, Osaka referred to the friction. “Apparently a lot of come ons that she was angry about. Whatever. She’s a great player. I think this was her last Australian Open. Sorry she was mad about it,” Osaka said.
She later elaborated on the interaction during her press conference, suggesting that the emotions of a final campaign might have influenced her opponent’s reaction. “She was angry about my come ons (…) I think it was her last Australian Open, so that’s probably why she is mad (…) she could have told me during the match,” Osaka stated. Despite the late-match distractions, Osaka’s statistical dominance in the final set was clear as she broke the veteran twice to seal the win and maintain her pursuit of a third title in Melbourne.
A collision with local favorite Maddison Inglis next
Naomi Osaka now turns her attention to the third round where she will face Australian Maddison Inglis. The 28-year-old local favorite advanced earlier on Thursday after a grueling three-set win over Laura Siegemund, setting up a clash that will likely test Osaka’s composure against a partisan Melbourne crowd. For Osaka, the back-to-back three-set victories serve as a vital indicator that her fitness and competitive instincts are returning to the levels that saw her claim the title here in 2019 and 2021.
As Cirstea departs the Australian Open stage for the last time, the tournament moves forward with Osaka as one of the most dangerous threats in the bottom half of the draw. The Japanese star has shown she can handle both the physical toll of long matches and the psychological pressure of on-court drama, qualities that will be essential as she moves into the second week of the first Grand Slam of the 2026 season.
