'Surprised, chair thought that was fair' - Novak Djokovic's wife slams Naomi Osaka over poor conduct at Australian Open 2026
(Courtesy : @AustralianOpen/Twitter)
Naomi Osaka’s opponent Sorana Cirstea was featuring in her final Australian Open match.
Massive controversy at the Australian Open 2026 erupted during Naomi Osaka’s second-round match against Sorana Cirstea on January 22. Osaka, the two-time Australian Open champion and No. 16 seed, defeated the Romanian veteran Cirstea 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in a tense encounter at Margaret Court Arena.
The flashpoint centered on Osaka’s repeated vocal self-encouragement. She shouted “Come on!” multiple times, including during brief pauses between Cirstea’s first and second serves.
Cirstea, visibly frustrated, complained to the chair umpire, but officials ruled that Osaka’s exclamations were permissible since they did not occur while the opponent was actively serving.
The tension boiled over post-match during the traditional handshake, which was notably brief and icy. Cirstea exchanged sharp words with Osaka near the umpire’s chair, prompting Osaka to question the reaction.
In her immediate on-court interview, Osaka dismissed the issue lightheartedly, suggesting Cirstea was upset because it might be her last Australian Open before retirement:
“Apparently a lot of ‘come-ons’ that she was angry about, but whatever… I think this is her last Australian Open so, okay, sorry she’s mad about it.”
This comment drew backlash for appearing insensitive. Osaka later backtracked in her press conference, acknowledging her words had been “disrespectful” and issuing an apology.
She clarified that her “Come on!” shouts were purely for self-motivation, not intended to distract Cirstea, and emphasized she never aims to disrespect opponents.
Cirstea, in her 18th and likely final Australian Open appearance before retiring, downplayed the exchange as a brief moment between competitors.
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The incident sparked wider debate on tennis etiquette. Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena Djokovic, publicly weighed in via an Instagram comment on a video of the moment. She sided with Cirstea, calling Osaka’s actions “disrespectful” and questioning why they were not ruled a hindrance.
Jelena wrote: “Hmm, I’m surprised that this is not being called hindrance. In between 2 serves, when crowds are applauding or shouting the chair umpire asks to not shout between serves as it is disturbing to the player.
The point is not finished. Sorana missed her first serve and is focusing on getting in the second, it is a slight pause. And it is disrespectful to applaud at someone’s first serve mistake too. I am surprised that chair/Naomi thought that was fair?! Were there any rule changes that I missed?”
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova echoed similar sentiments on the Tennis Channel. While understanding Osaka’s heat-of-the-moment post-match reaction, Navratilova condemned the on-court behavior:
“You cannot be talking out loud between first and second serves of your opponent… Cirstea was ready to hit the second serve and Osaka says, ‘Come on!’ That’s not right… You can say ‘Come on!’ all you want, but keep it inside. Do not verbalise it”, said the 18-time Grand Slam champion.
Fellow great Lindsay Davenport also criticized it as a breach of “basic tennis etiquette.” Problems compounded for Osaka later, as she was forced to withdraw from her fourth-round clash due to abdominal injury, resulting in an abrupt end to a promising run.
What caused the controversy in Naomi Osaka’s match at Australian Open 2026?
The controversy arose from Osaka’s repeated “Come on!” shouts between Sorana Cirstea’s first and second serves, which Cirstea felt were distracting.
Did Naomi Osaka break any rules?
Match officials ruled that Osaka did not violate any rules, as her comments did not occur while Cirstea was actively serving.
How did Sorana Cirstea react during the match?
Cirstea complained to the chair umpire and appeared visibly frustrated, especially after the repeated interruptions
What happened after the match?
The post-match handshake was brief and tense, and both players exchanged sharp words near the umpire’s chair.
What did Osaka say in her on-court interview?
Osaka suggested that Cirstea was upset because it might be her last Australian Open, saying, “Whatever… sorry she’s mad about it,” which sparked backlash.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.