AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2026

Naomi Osaka

Press Conference

N. OSAKA/S. Cirstea

6-3, 4-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Naomi, how does it feel to get through a tough three-setter and go into the third round?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, I mean, it feels, I mean, I guess good. It was definitely a really tough match, so I'm glad that I was able to pull it out in the end.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. In the third set you had 16 winners, you limited her to just two. How were you able to get past the second set and switch it to a new gear in the third?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I was just thinking that I hit a lot of unforced errors in the second set I think. I also, I don't know, tried to feel more free in the rallies. I was really focused on, like, hitting on one side or trying to avoid her backhand. I just kind of gave myself a little bit more grace.

Q. In tennis we have dramatic handshakes that happen sometimes. I can't remember any happening with you before. What were your thoughts as it started to unfold at the net there for maybe the first time for you?

NAOMI OSAKA: Uhm... I just thought, I was like, Huh, that's interesting. That was my exact thought in my head.

Q. Did you have any sense that Sorana was frustrated by anything you were doing? Looking back, does it feel unfair?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, no. Like, for me, no one's ever complained about it before. Also the umpire didn't tell me, like, I was wrong. The umpire said I was fine. I was like, Okay. That was kind of what I thought. Like, I thought we moved past it, so ...

Q. Obviously you had a medical timeout. How are you fitness-wise? What was bothering you?

NAOMI OSAKA: It's kind of a reoccurring thing. I guess if you look at my medical history, you can maybe do like a little guessing game.

Yeah, I think for me, I'm just really glad that I kind of pushed through it and also played, like, really good tennis in the third set. I try to just leave the tournament site with that in mind for the next days.

Q. Sorana very much wanted to play it down in her news conference. Would you speak to her about it or do you want to just draw a line under it?

NAOMI OSAKA: Well, if I'm being honest, I've never been involved in something like this before, so it's like I don't know if we're supposed to leave it on the court and be like, Hey, how you doing?

I'm a little confused. I guess that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologize. I think the first couple things that I said on the court was disrespectful. I don't like disrespecting people. That's not what I do.

So yeah, I mean, if she wants to talk about it, then yeah. But, like, when I'm pumping myself up, in my head I'm not like, Okay, now I'm going to distract the other person. It's purely for me, so...

Q. When you were speaking to her on the court or...

NAOMI OSAKA: I haven't seen her. I meant in my on-court interview, which I thought I could have done a lot better at, so...

Q. It did seem you used it, right? At 4-2, 30-All, the next to you c'mons were super loud. Pumped yourself up to get to the finishing line. Did you? That's what it seemed like. Did you use that to spur you on?

NAOMI OSAKA: Yeah, like, I'm not a person that reacts well to be casually disrespected. So yeah, I kind of probably, like, overdid it in the next couple of points. But it takes a lot out of me. Like I'm very tired now.

Q. Why did you decide to go to the simplified look coming out?

NAOMI OSAKA: My simplified look is very extra for some people. I don't know. I just felt like switching it up. I think it's kind of fun to keep everyone on the edge. I thought it was really pretty that there were some people with veils over their hats. I was really grateful for that.

For me it's kind of cool, like you never know what I'm going to pull out next.

Q. I don't know if you know this, but now in three-set matches, you've won 10 of 11 matches here they AO. If you drop your second set, what is going through your head at that point? How do you turn it around?

NAOMI OSAKA: I mean, I think for me, I go into it knowing that my fitness level is pretty good. Like, I don't know, I appreciate the balls that I'm getting, and it kind of surprises me sometimes. I know that I'm fit enough to go into the third set pretty strong. Also I just really love this tournament and I want to stay here as long as possible. That definitely motivates me.

Q. Your outfit in all the pictures said in your entrance from two days ago is still going very viral. What has been the satisfaction for you of seeing how much excitement and interest this moment that you created sent out to the world?

NAOMI OSAKA: Honestly, I'm not online. People talk to me about it. I realize that people like it because when I come on-site, other players want to talk about it. But for the most part, when I play a slam, I don't really go online like that.

But I don't know, I'm really glad that people like it. I'm glad that Nike wasn't mad at me (smiling).

Q. Did they not know you were going to do it?

NAOMI OSAKA: No, it's kind of like a surprise. For me, I don't know how to describe it. Like the dress is beautiful. The jacket is beautiful. They let me design it and everything. But sometimes I'm a little extra and I want something more. Robert Wun was so amazing. He kind of like was able to lift it up while not pulling it down at the same time.

Q. On your next opponent, you have an Aussie, Maddie Inglis. Your thoughts on that? Do you enjoy playing the Aussies here as well?

NAOMI OSAKA: When is the last time I played an Aussie here? I feel like I remember playing Barty here when we were both really young. That was my last memory.

I mean, I think the crowd is really engaging. It should be super fun. I don't think I've played Maddison before. She's obviously in this third round, so she deserves to be here. She's going to be a really tough opponent. I don't think there's anyone in a slam that's not a tough opponent.

I guess we'll see.