'Disrespectful': Naomi Osaka apologises to Sorana Cirstea in press conference after fiery clash

Fashion and friction have been the defining features for Naomi Osaka in two rounds at the Australian Open that couldn't have been more different.

Osaka fended off Sorana Cirstea 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.

READ MORE: Stan's classic beer moment before winning 4-hour epic

READ MORE: 'Heart of a lion': Aussie in shock after $327k dream win

READ MORE: Eels take legal action against Lomax as saga gets messy

As they walked toward the umpire's chair, Osaka asked, "What was that for?"

Cirstea responded directly to the two-time Australian Open winner, upset with Osaka's efforts to pump herself up at stages during the match.

"Apparently a lot of 'C'mons' that she was angry about," Osaka said, "but whatever. I think this was her last Australian Open so, OK, sorry she was mad about it."

Osaka got emotional in her on-court interview when asked to clarify why the tension heightened with the 35-year-old Romanian, saying, "She could have asked me (to stop)."

"Honestly ... no one's ever complained about it before. Also the umpire didn't tell me I was wrong — the umpire said I was fine. Like, I thought we moved past it."

In her post match press conference, the Japanese star apologised for the way she reacted to the situation on court.

"I guess that emotions were very high for her. I also want to apologise," Osaka said.

"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."

She added: "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 apologise. 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.

"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.'

"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."

Cirstea played down the severity of the exchange when speaking to reporters at her post-match press conference, declaring it was just a simple chat, "nothing big".

"I don't think that is the main thing after tonight's match. I will not talk about that," she said.

"I have been playing for 20 years ... there's more going on than a five-second discussion at the end (of a match) that I had with Naomi.

"There was no drama. It was just a five-second exchange between two players that have been on a tour for a long time. It stays between us."

Osaka and Cirstea had only faced each other once before back in 2015 during Wimbledon qualifiers, with the Romanian winning that three-set match.

Osaka will now face Australia's only remaining player in the woman's draw in the third round, being Maddison Inglis.

- with AP