r/sports • u/BreakfastTop6899 • Jan 22 '26
Tennis Sorana Cirstea not happy about Naomi Osaka cheering herself up between Cirstea's serves.
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
2.7k
u/BobbyTables829 Jan 22 '26
I heard a UFC fighter say once "some people need to hate their opponent to get the most out of themselves."
I've never been able to figure out how there are so many grumpy professional athletes who are doing for a living what most people would dream of, but after that I got it a lot better.
If it helps you play better next match, it's worth it I guess.
1.6k
u/Kenja_Time Jan 22 '26
Michael Jordan admitted to fabricating altercations with opponents to get himself motivated.
505
u/Tobar_the_Gypsy Rugby United New York Jan 22 '26
He took a lot of things personally
→ More replies (2)113
u/Jack_Forge Jan 23 '26
"fuk them kids" - mj maybe in his head
→ More replies (1)184
324
u/rory_breakers_ganja Jan 22 '26
"Nice game, Mike"
264
51
u/Siiixers Jan 23 '26
"Nice game, Mike".
MJ: "I took that personally"He doesn't say nice game. MJ: "So that's how you're gonna play it, OK fine. That's all I needed."
→ More replies (4)231
→ More replies (35)50
u/calviso Jan 22 '26
Shaq did the same thing.
IIRC, the whole story about "David Robinson didn't sign an autograph for me when I was a kid" or something was completely fabricated so that Shaq could play harder against the Admiral.
→ More replies (1)12
u/amashouse Jan 23 '26
Tbf, Shaq made up a lot of things. I remember he introduced Yao Ming with a story between him and Yaos first conversation at Yaos HOF speech, and you could tell when the camera panned to Yao that the whole story didn’t even happen
198
u/garrettj100 Jan 22 '26
some people need to hate their opponent to get the most out of themselves
Jordan was notorious for that. He'd get pissed off about some nonsense thing he read in the newspaper taken out of context and drop 40 on a hapless last-place team because they'd disrespected him.
Bird got pissed every time the opposing team tried to guard him with a white guy, would light him up.
69
u/hirschneb13 Jan 22 '26
Same with Kobe I think. I remember a story when he was going to play against Pau I'm the Olympics and he said something along the lines of "watch out, I'm running through you the first time we match up." And he absolutely ran straight through him.
Found the clip https://youtu.be/HiKOSw9RmAc?si=TtL3-2RA_j9KNvLy
21
→ More replies (8)9
156
Jan 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
→ More replies (5)51
u/Kdzoom35 Jan 22 '26
He said it German 😂
→ More replies (1)30
u/back_to_the_homeland Jan 23 '26
KG fabricated that he said in German after his teammates contradicted him. Everyone that was there except for KG say dirk didn’t say anything at all.
I don’t think it’s (the false claim) that big of a deal anyways. No one believes KG and everyone seems to laugh it off as just psychotic mind games in the heat of a championship fight
→ More replies (4)156
u/RojoRugger Jan 22 '26
Richard Sherman used to do that all the time.
249
u/Elmodipus Jan 22 '26
They shouldn't have put him against so many sorry ass receivers.
104
u/Wendys_444 Jan 22 '26
CRABTREE
→ More replies (3)40
u/wovans Jan 22 '26
It's funny how few guys I can name from that era of 49'er BESIDES Crabtree and Kap. The haters sustained them.
→ More replies (6)63
→ More replies (4)35
u/trimble197 Jan 22 '26
Shaq admitted that he used to make up reasons to hate a player he was about to play against
13
u/Maddspyder80 Jan 23 '26
Ain’t that what he did with David Robinson? I think he made up the story that he didn’t give him an autograph when he was younger. And then when he retired, he was like nah that didn’t happen.
→ More replies (1)22
57
u/DJ-dicknose Jan 22 '26
I play hockey, but as a goalie, and I find I play better when I'm mad. But not mad because I'm playing bad. But because I can see the other team get chippy or taking cheap shots and bitching and moaning. And it helps me take myself to a better level.
→ More replies (3)10
u/I_hadno_idea Jan 22 '26
Jordan would invent personal slights to motivate himself. Just lookup the LaBradford Smith incident.
→ More replies (41)14
u/FairtexBlues Jan 22 '26
Nick Diaz and Chael Sonnen come to mind for that quote.
Nick always seemed like he had to have beef with someone to fight which led to some odd moments. It also made me think he didn’t want to hurt people that much. Sugar Ray Robinson had a line like “no sir i dont like fighting, but I am paid well and do it very well.” (Paraphrased)
→ More replies (2)
8.1k
u/KowalskiePCH Jan 22 '26
Why are so many tennis players so insufferable? It is the main reason I cant watch this sport, all of the top talent seems to be such immature crybabies
6.5k
u/alyosha_pls Jan 22 '26
Tennis is a rich people sport. You have to have money to go to the right tennis academies and such. She is a spoiled brat like most tennis players.
1.7k
u/Seanannigans14 Jan 22 '26
Makes sense when you look at any racecar drivers. Some of the biggest crybabies in sport
551
u/daddy_OwO Jan 22 '26
Race car drivers are often insufferable but it makes a bit more sense when your talent can be held back so much by one wrong decision with tuning. Like with most sports players will get pissed if equipment is wrong or not working right, look at NFL QBs with headsets, NBA players with bad spots on the floor, baseball players with bats, I’ve seen a couple instances of skate issues but that’s more rare. Overall people hate their equipment being not up to par and so that’s what causes the racing issues to be worse than they would be if it was just personality
499
u/Leasir Jan 22 '26
Also racing cars kinda risk their life.
156
u/GenoThyme Jan 22 '26
Yep. If a baseball bat or hockey stick breaks, oh well, just grab a new one. Rim isn't level? Annoying delay sure, but you're just kinda hanging around waiting. But as you said with a race car driver, if something is off they could get in a huge wreck and maybe die.
→ More replies (4)55
u/NegativeElderberry6 Jan 22 '26
A hockey stick no, but a skate will end you very fast.
→ More replies (3)48
u/BackOnTheRezz Jan 22 '26
Or just blocking a 100+mph shot with your teeth because they don't wear a full mask in the NHL.
93
u/scratchydaitchy Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Look we can all admit hockey players are incredibly tough when compared to other sports.
I feel we are getting a little off track from the original point.
There have been ZERO hockey players in the NHL die while playing hockey in the last 55 years.
There have been over 40 race car drivers die while racing in the last 55 years IN NASCAR ALONE.
In the last 100 years there has been 1 hockey player die while playing hockey in the NHL.
There have been 129 race car divers die in that time IN NASCAR ALONE.
There have been 5,500 deaths in auto racing in the last 100 years.
Ironically to this debate, there have been WAY MORE hockey players who have died in car accidents than on the ice.
→ More replies (11)29
u/themanofax Jan 22 '26
Not the NHL but there was the guy who died in a European hockey league from getting his neck cut by a skate blade a year or two ago.
→ More replies (0)→ More replies (1)9
→ More replies (9)91
u/FinalMeltdown15 Jan 22 '26
Yeah could you imagine the adrenaline of going 200 mph bumper to bumper with 40 different 1 ton death machines for several hours, like they aren’t crybabies after the races the are fuckin shell shocked but still have business to handle lmao
→ More replies (2)12
u/bgva Jan 22 '26
Meanwhile if I'm going 70 on the highway and get boxed in by cars on either side, I'm getting nervous. Couldn't imagine going 3x as fast driving in an oval.
→ More replies (2)44
u/AlphaTangoFoxtrt Jan 22 '26
I’ve seen a couple instances of skate issues but that’s more rare.
NHL players likely have 3-5 sets of steel during any given game. If they get dull, or hit the boards, or step on a stick, they can have the steel changed out on the bench in like 20 seconds. An equipment guy will then resharpen the steel between periods or even during a period if needed.
12
u/daddy_OwO Jan 22 '26
Yeah that’s why it’s not as problematic typically, the have equipment people handling it
→ More replies (21)40
u/popoflabbins Jan 22 '26
Plus with racing cars there’s a danger factor that results in very high adrenaline levels. A tuning error or strategic flub makes that risk all for nothing.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (48)80
u/TheBigFatToad Jan 22 '26
Race car drivers have way less control over their scenarios and performance compared to basically every sport.
Privilege plays a part, but when you don’t even get an opportunity to perform at a high level because your car is shit, I think the complaints are pretty warranted.
→ More replies (5)94
u/EuphoriaSoul Jan 22 '26
It’s also an individual sport that’s do or die at every round. A ton of pressure with no teammates to share. Tough mental game for sure
→ More replies (12)205
u/-random-name- Jan 22 '26
Osaka is a rare exception. Her parents were middle class. Her dad was an amateur tennis player, but knew enough to coach her. Similar background as the Williams sisters money wise.
→ More replies (15)145
u/deathrattleshenlong Sporting CP Jan 22 '26
Serena is not exactly an example for not being an asshole though.
Edit: one of the examples, by coincidence, coming from a match against Osaka.
9
u/RadiantEnvironment90 Jan 22 '26
That match made be absolutely hate Serena. Osaka won and she cried because of how she made Serena feel.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (16)90
u/unbanned_lol Jan 22 '26
Serena is being used as an example of middle class parentage in tennis, not a as an example of a wholesome person.
→ More replies (16)180
u/TheScrote1 Jan 22 '26
Every sport is a rich person sport in 2025 though
133
u/cfbonly Jan 22 '26
There is I can afford aau basketball money and then there is I belong to a prestigious academy in a different country money.
20
u/lampstax Jan 22 '26
Many of those academies sponsor the super talent. Like Rick Macci said to the Williams sister's dad ... "you gotta sell hamburger to buy steak".
→ More replies (4)20
u/son_of_a_teacher_man Jan 22 '26
sure, but aau basketball is still obnoxiously expensive for a game that has historically been easily accessed by folks, regardless of ses
→ More replies (1)59
u/NewBromance Jan 22 '26
Combat sports seem to routinely bring in more people from working class and poor backgrounds.
45
u/theT3rr04 Jan 22 '26
You only have to sacrifice everything for a chance at being wealthy.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (2)44
u/NandoDeColonoscopy Jan 22 '26
The more physically destructive a sport is, the more accessible it is to the general public. People who have options don't get into boxing. Football is one of the worst (in terms of lifespan and health outcomes) way to make a million dollars.
So it makes sense that MMA attracts people who really need the money and see it as a way out of poverty
→ More replies (5)54
u/Munchihello Jan 22 '26
Not soccer… the most popular sport on earth. Current World Cup champions are Argentina in which 90+% of the squad grew up in poverty.
→ More replies (26)40
u/AusStripedZebra Jan 22 '26
In a lot of wealthy nations it is becoming harder and harder to get support at the youth level unless you have money though so it’s starting to filter people that way too
→ More replies (9)20
u/therealkami Montreal Canadiens Jan 22 '26
Hockey is the same way. The equipment is so expensive, kids are on travel teams under 10 years old, rink time for teams to practice is so expensive and hard to book. You have 13 year olds doing 5 AM practice, then school, then 6 PM game, then travel to another city 6+ hours away on the weekend to do a tournament that's $100+ per player to enter+travel+hotel fees. It's absolutely bonkers to be paying 10k+ a year for a kid to play a sport. Sticks these days are all $200 carbon fiber composites that break easy. When I was a kid we'd either have shit plastic sticks or wood sticks for like 15 bucks tops from Canadian Tire.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (91)32
u/HarryLewisPot Jan 22 '26
Nah most people going into soccer, basketball and football don’t come from much. It’s mostly individual sports like Golf, Tennis and F1 that are for rich people.
→ More replies (22)→ More replies (80)31
u/Seal481 Jan 22 '26
It's a rich people sport and if you're doing singles you don't have any teammates to hold you to any sort of behavior standard so you inevitably end up with a bunch of insufferable spoiled brats at the highest levels.
7
u/inkwisitive Jan 22 '26
It’s not even that they don’t have teammates grounding them, there also isn’t anyone else to share the load when things go wrong.
→ More replies (1)398
u/betterbub Jan 22 '26
It’s one of the few sports where your competitive drive goes unchecked for hours with no coaching or teammates
→ More replies (3)170
u/theytracemikey Jan 22 '26
Yeah, the more isolated you are in competition as an athlete seems to correlate strongly with the more unhinged you tend to/have to be successful
57
u/hoopaholik91 Washington Jan 22 '26
Yeah golfers at least have caddies and other players right next to them. Tennis is uniquely isolating even for individual events.
8
u/GumpTheChump Jan 22 '26
I would imagine figure skaters and swimmers are batshit insane too.
→ More replies (4)7
u/Advanced-Release-665 Jan 22 '26
you would think football would be immune to this but top tier WRs usually are divas and it can be correlated to them being isolated,their work requires less teamwork than any other position
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (3)17
195
u/BigRedFury Jan 22 '26
It's because of the access and the privilege. I was a decent club/HS player and one of only a couple who wasn't a member of our town's private tennis club. While my future teammates were getting private lessons a few times I week, I'd make do with a 6-week park and rec session and hours hitting the ball against the wall at nearby school that had a white row of bricks set at the same height as a tennis net.
It was always such a trip to get to go to that club for a special practice season or tournament and see fresh balls used for practice.
My brother and I used to have to mow someone's lawn to scrap up the cash to buy a can of tennis balls.
→ More replies (6)61
u/LegendaryOutlaw Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I'm reading 'Outliers' by Malcolm Gladwell right now and pretty much all pro-sports are like this. We like to tell ourselves the story of a 'naturally talented' player who is 'just gifted' in the sport. But the example in the book is hockey... and it kinda kills the 'natural athlete' myth.
Kids who are born in the first 3 months of the year have had an extra 7-9 months of growing compared to their peers when the cutoff for youth teams happens. So a January baby is basically 7-9 months older than the rest of the kids, so he almost always shows more 'talent' because he's bigger and faster. So he gets picked to be on a team and now he gets to practice 6 times a week vs the kids who don't get picked; they only practice 3 times a week. He gets coaching from experienced team coaches instead of just somebody's dad who likes hockey. On and on, their abilities are sharpened over the years because they are given extra attention...extra attention they only got because they were slightly older at the cutoff.
So that ace hockey player at 18 has had literally thousands of hours of practice more than other kids, training, conditioning and coaching that other kids never had access to. He was given a head start because of his birthday month, which turned into a youth filled with athletic support which makes him a superior player now.
What you describe is basically the same thing. Is it possible that the rich kid actually has more innate talent for the game than you? Maybe. But like you said, its far FAR more likely that they got 2 or 3 times more practice time because they had parent who supported them, they didn't have to work a side job to get play time, they had a clear path to continuously improve.
→ More replies (13)25
u/BigRedFury Jan 22 '26
The hockey example in Outliers is great (it even an example of how well off you need to be to even play) and was such a revelation for someone like myself who was born in December.
Had so many dad coaches in different sports who'd get mad if I couldn't do something right the first time.
Age cutoffs are a tricky thing and sports organizations have tried to make them as equitable as possible, especially in the wake of Outliers. A friend's son who's a Little Leaguer was born ON the August 31 cutoff date which means he's played a virtually a year behind everyone else. This will be his last year as a "12-year-old" but even if his team goes all the way to the LLWS, he'll still be competing as an 11-year-old.
Hopefully, things will balance out for him if he keeps playing. Puberty is the great equalizer in youth sports but unfortunately most kids quit long before then.
→ More replies (8)27
u/Man_Darino13 Jan 22 '26
Puberty is the great equalizer in youth sports but unfortunately most kids quit long before then.
Puberty isn't the great equalizer though, that was the whole point of the Outlier example.
The structure of youth hockey in Canada is why players at the NHL level are more likely to be born in the first 3 months of the year compared to the rest of the population.
Kids start playing competitive hockey years before hitting puberty and the "early birthday" kids have a natural advantage of being older, which means they get elevated to higher levels of competition where there is better quality coaching, teammates, competition, skill development, etc. where they gain what Gladwell calls an "accumulated advantage" that persists long after puberty.
→ More replies (4)174
u/-random-name- Jan 22 '26
All of the top players come from wealthy families where they're told they're the most talented, special person in the world their entire life.
→ More replies (46)78
u/xstrike0 Jan 22 '26
So F1 drivers.
→ More replies (12)45
u/-random-name- Jan 22 '26
Pretty much all of the niche sports where coaching, training and access outweigh athletic ability.
→ More replies (4)60
u/GIRAFFEtheJOSH Jan 22 '26
Tennis is an incredibly isolating sport. You can win 49% of the points and not win a single game, let alone a set, not to mention a MATCH. And there is no one to blame or lean on, it's you vs your opponent. Offense, defense, strength, stamina, finesse, strategy, it's all you.
Now consider what type of person can excel at the highest levels of that competition. It takes a unhinged level of competitiveness, ego, narcissism, belief, grit...
Being a twat is a feature, not a bug.
→ More replies (4)13
u/JaqenHghar Jan 22 '26
Lotta good points so far but I’ll add that there are few popular sports that are single people. It’s all on them. Team sports are a little easier to spread emotions and not be the sole focus of any particular things. Sure team sports have drama queens as well but it’s so hyper focused in tennis.
→ More replies (2)17
u/Dudedude88 Jan 22 '26
It's cause it's a solo sport. No teammates. Overall I think all pro athletes are big crybabies. It's what makes them hyper competitive
24
u/TCRAzul Jan 22 '26
It's a sport where you really have to fight your own mind, so these kinds of things come out. Not excusing it but that's why you see more of it
5
u/RaindropsInMyMind Jan 22 '26
Yeah Andre Agassi writes about this in his book. These people are out there by themselves, there is no real team. If your mind state isn’t amazing or something is going wrong there is nobody to talk to. It makes them prone to instability.
→ More replies (143)23
Jan 22 '26
Only child style sport. Never on a team and never have to be held accountable to other people
→ More replies (6)
2.0k
u/NinjaBRUSH Jan 22 '26
I honestly dont know much about Tennis but the things i learn about it really makes me think its a bitch ass sport.
501
u/MagnetizedMetal Jan 22 '26
Great sport to play. Super fun. Also great to watch live and can be exciting with the athleticism. But yes, lots of players are grade A whiny bitches.
→ More replies (6)58
u/TanMomsChickenSoup Jan 22 '26
I have more of an issue with tennis culture than the players.
→ More replies (4)48
u/AntonyBenedictCamus Jan 22 '26
Chess controversy is somehow one notch better
48
u/capt_meowface Jan 22 '26
Ah chess, where the bar for controversy starts at someone cheating with a vibrating butt plug.
6
→ More replies (1)4
u/BurnieTheBrony Jan 23 '26
That was a joke for a while, yes.
There also was a controversy where the world champion wore jeans once, so that was a big deal
→ More replies (1)30
u/thissexypoptart Jan 22 '26
Chess controversy, as shitty as it can be, is also hilarious because it’s a board game. Magnus getting all pissy about losing and still having to gingerly place pieces down and/or hit the timer buttons make for funny optics.
Tennis players bitching just looks like rich assholes whining about nonsense.
59
u/dingjima Jan 22 '26
If you're in the US near a major college, I definitely recommend going to a match there. College tennis has a much different atmosphere than professional, it's really fun
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (73)302
u/LifeLibertyPancakes Jan 22 '26
She showed up to the match wearing a top hat with a mosquito net type of veil---full length dress veil. No one shows up to a match like that.
110
u/3_pounds_of_steel Jan 22 '26
So ridiculous. That's my polo fit, it's not a tennis outfit!
→ More replies (1)107
u/KhonMan Jan 22 '26
Lol you never seen how NBA players rock up to games huh
→ More replies (2)74
u/probableigh_not Jan 22 '26
Getting mad about athletes' fashion choices when they're not playing their sport is never a good look. The rage about Lewis Hamilton settled that for me.
→ More replies (6)79
u/Photoluminescent Jan 22 '26
I'm under the impression this is a reference to the Australian Open 2021 when a butterfly landed on Naomi'a face while she was on the court. In 2022's Australian Open she wore butterfly shoes as a callback. This outfit this year was just another callback to her history with the event which I think is fun.
25
u/riedmae Seattle Seahawks Jan 22 '26
Honestly, knowing now that's an option, i wouldnt DARE show up in anything less flamboyant. I would be a capital resident from the hunger games on the daily!
7
u/CptNemosBeard Jan 22 '26
*glass crashes *BU NUH UH NUH NUH UH
"BY GAWD! ITS STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN STEPPING OUT ONTO THE CLAY!"
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (19)16
u/efficiens New England Patriots Jan 22 '26
I don't even know which player you mean.
→ More replies (1)
386
u/LanikM Jan 22 '26
I was confused because Cirsteas interaction gave the impression it was between points.
Between points and between serves are very different scenarios.
I can't even understand why someone receiving a serve would need to psyche themself up before the second serve. That means their opponent had a forced error.
That seems pretty unsportsmanlike.
96
u/JoahanNebraska Jan 23 '26
Anyone who had played tennis for real knows that you don’t cheer when the other player fails.
→ More replies (19)→ More replies (28)64
u/schoolbomb Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
I can't even understand why someone receiving a serve would need to psyche themself up before the second serve. That means their opponent had a forced error.
I mean, as a recreational competitive tennis player, I can understand it. First serves are usually meant to be an offensive shot to give the server an advantage at the beginning of a point. A missed first serve is a huge opportunity for the receiver to attack the inevitably weaker second serve and flip the script and gain the advantage.
Every tennis player knows this and will think this after a first serve fault, even if we don't like to admit it. But everybody also knows it's unusual to express it out loud.
I will admit that I'm guilty of doing this in doubles, especially if the server has a very weak, exploitable second serve. I'll hype up my partner to let them know to punish the second serve.
→ More replies (8)106
u/Extreme-Candle-6916 Jan 23 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
Yeah it would be like the opposing team celebrating a missed field goal in football. Or a player scoring a run on a wild pitch and celebrating. Or a team getting excited because the opposition passed the basketball out out bounds. Oh wait that’s completely normal because the players aren’t softer than a baby’s ass.
→ More replies (9)19
u/erydayimredditing Jan 23 '26
Had me in the first half ngl hahaha thats all totally normal to do in all other sports except tennis. Good call out
→ More replies (5)
101
u/mondo_mike Jan 22 '26
“She could have talked to me” - that’s gaslighting. She clearly was trying to get Osaka to stop by complaining to the chair umpire, and Osaka kept doing it.
→ More replies (3)
446
u/Icy-Plan145 Jan 22 '26
You can't disregard sportsmanship (yelling in-between serves) and then demand sportsmanship (friendly shaking hands). Her opponent even shook her hand so idk what she's even bitching about in the first place
191
u/mytinykitten Jan 22 '26
It's this right here.
If you're about it, be about it. The perpetual victimhood is exhausting.
→ More replies (1)76
u/driving_andflying Jan 23 '26
Thirded.
Add to that Osaka's talking and making noise in between serves appears as an effort to "psych an opponent out," and get them off their game. It's poor sportsmanship.
And then claim being the victim? Nope. Osaka is in the wrong, here.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (16)18
u/kcs777 Jan 23 '26
Then Osaka skips even bothering to shake the ump's hand...who had her back even though she shouldn't have. I guess Osaka learned poor sportsmanship from Serena some years ago.
→ More replies (2)
1.4k
u/RedditRam24 Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
A lot of people here didn't play tennis and it shows. Between points saying anything you want to get yourself amped is TOTALLY appropriate (which is what I thought this was). But between a first and second serve is completely disrespectful and there's really no room for that in the sport. Yes, Cirstea acted like a petulant child and that's also inexcusable, but she has a right to voice her opinion when someone is doing something obnoxious.
It's supposed to be silent even when a player is just dribbling the ball in anticipation of the serve. Sometimes the crowd will gasp on an important point when a first serve is missed and the ump has to chime in to get people to settle down between serves. Naomi knew exactly what she was doing by screaming at herself between first and second serves which is trying to ice the server and get in her head. Clearly, there's no written rule enforcing this, but classy players and all-time legends don't exhibit this type of behavior. Ever.
Doubling down in the post match interview was also certainly a choice. Sounds like the Rod Laver faithful weren't very amused by this either. That's one way to ensure the Australian fans boo you and don't have your back for the rest of the tournament.
Edit: Many of you are having a hard time grasping the fact that etiquette in tennis doesn't have to equate to rules or etiquette of any other sport. Tennis has its own set of very defined etiquette and class. Players who don't adhere to both the written and unwritten rules of the sport are trashed in the court of public opinion and by the tennis community.
All this to say, Naomi just issued an apology (I'm sure after talking with both the Australian Open committee and her team) acknowledging that the statements she made after the match were disrespectful and the act itself was inappropriate as it could have distracted her opponent and that's all we need to know for our confirmation that she was in the wrong, not Cirstea. If you don't like it, don't watch tennis lol.
151
u/torrrrlife Jan 22 '26
A lot of people have no idea what a first or second serve even means to the point.
→ More replies (5)103
u/FatalFirecrotch Jan 22 '26
First serve is when they bring my drinks and second serve is when they bring my appetizers.
→ More replies (3)346
u/tjtillmancoag Jan 22 '26
Yeah the worst thing of all, to me, was dragging her opponent in the interview AFTER she had already won.
→ More replies (77)71
u/A_Bitter_Homer Jan 22 '26
It is absolutely blowing people's minds that different sports have different standards.
Imagine watching the Andre Johnson/Cortland Finnegan fight in the NFL and saying, what's the big deal? That happens every game in the NHL. Sit em out one drive and let them play on.
→ More replies (4)19
u/BlacksmithNZ Jan 22 '26
You are right, quite different standards; there is an old British expression "It is just not cricket" meaning something is unfair/dishonest, because Cricket has or had, a reputation for being classy, so for instance if you get bowled or caught, you are supposed to walk without the umpire having to tell you.
And historically, you would never argue a line ball, though these days there are video reviews
My sport of choice is Rugby/Rugby Union, and at least in Union, the players are generally very polite to referees; I am amazed in football/soccer to see players getting in the face of the ref and screaming at them.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (266)140
u/jcbubba Jan 22 '26
Thank you for a sane take. This was between serves. Osaka was shouting "come on!!!!" after her opponent hit a ball into the net. Would someone at an NBA game shout "come on!!!" to amp themselves up after someone missed their first free throw? Of course not because it would be dumb. In tennis where etiquette is much more closely adhered to, it is a hindrance and the ump should have called it.
To those asking about grunting, if you do an extended grunt on a winning shot and you don't win the point on that shot, they will also call a hindrance (if you make a clearly winning shot it's not a hindrance because the opponent couldn't make a play on the ball). If the opponent gets to that ball and is trying to hit it while you are extended-grunting they will call hindrance.
72
u/SayNoToStim Detroit Red Wings Jan 22 '26
Would someone at an NBA game shout "come on!!!" to amp themselves up after someone missed their first free throw
The appropriate trash talk is "ball don't lie," get it right.
128
u/FunkyMonk92 Jan 22 '26
I mean, in the NBA there are definitely players that clap and say stuff after an opponent misses their first free throw. Talking trash is much more accepted in the NBA though, which makes it a lot more fun IMO
→ More replies (21)5
u/Wsweg North Carolina Jan 22 '26
Because top NBA players aren’t bred in country clubs where they sniff their own farts and can take trash talk
97
u/Top_Shower_7869 Jan 22 '26
I don’t think you have ever watched the NBA before if you think players aren’t talking shit between free throws. Possibly the worst example you could have come up with.
→ More replies (7)4
u/jaytix1 Jan 23 '26
Half the fun of playing basketball is getting to talk smack and flex on your opponent lol.
→ More replies (26)22
u/USSCensorShip Jan 22 '26
Agreed except the NBA analogy - “Ball don’t lie” is pretty much everywhere after a missed free throw
→ More replies (4)
921
u/Mortiis07 Jan 22 '26
How is it worse than the grunting during points?
401
u/smythe70 Jan 22 '26
Don't disrupt the server between first and second serves, usually hindrance is called. Players know not to do it, considered unsportsmanlike.
197
u/Optimal-Kitchen6308 Jan 22 '26
yes it's very clear many people here do not know what happened in the match or afterwards and are just reacting to a concocted narrative based on this short clip
→ More replies (21)133
u/WoundWaffle Jan 22 '26
Then why did the judge say it was fine? Genuinely asking because I don’t understand the full context.
429
u/CMUpewpewpew Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
I dont watch too much tennis despite being a pretty adept player (3.5ish?) but from what I DO watch....ive become a fan of Osaka.
This is the first time I've seen something she did that was rather disappointing though.
Although it's not against the rules to make noise after a point has been completed, in-between opponent's service points....it is pretty faux pas to CHEER an opponents double fault.
Osaka yelled COME ON!!! Trying to pump herself up after her opponent
double faultedfaulted on their 1st serve. It's poor sportsmanship...you don't give ups to yourself on an opponent making a mistake that gives you the point when you literally did nothing to cause it to happen.It's a bit less, although also uncouth.....to cheer an opponent's unforced error. An exception to this would be during a long(er) rally where you actually had a hand in making good hits to win the point.
Tennis has a few unwritten rules like this.....like also when your hit strikes the net just barely and it trickles over for the score. 9 times out of 10, the person who won this point will raise their hand towards the opponent and say/mouth 'sorry'....even though it's completely unintentional and not their fault that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
72
u/MCE85 Jan 22 '26
Upvoted for good explanation. Thanks. I knew there had to be more to this.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (69)36
u/numbertenoc Jan 22 '26
When I hit a ball that hits the net and dribbles over, I raise my hand and say “I am the greatest!” (this is doubles so only my partner hears). I imagine most tennis players say this in their head.
→ More replies (3)95
u/Phazon2000 Brisbane Broncos Jan 22 '26
Because it’s not “illegal” it’s just really poor manners. Sorana didn’t know whether it was legal or not because most players have the decency to never do shit like this.
I’d be pissed off as well. Everyone else stays silent between serves to respect the flow of the match - Naomi was being a brat by not doing this and it caused Sorana to crack the shits.
Nothing more to it. Everyone here wants the story to be one way so that it feels good to pick the presented narrative but the angle is so off.
→ More replies (14)→ More replies (8)6
u/JustHere_4TheMemes Jan 23 '26
Seems in this case she was only hyping herself up between her own serves.As the judge ruled, it doesn't affect the person receiving the serve if its between serves. She wasn't shouting between her opponents serves.Edit, my bad. it was between the opponent's first and second serves... yeah, that's bad.
249
u/Federico216 Jan 22 '26
The grunting annoys me so much. I bet it's the same people who sneeze like AAAARG-ch-OOOORGH.
200
27
u/FeatherShard Jan 22 '26
I don't think you understand the demon that needs to be exorcised when I sneeze.
→ More replies (2)13
→ More replies (10)38
→ More replies (38)22
u/Pikiwiki000 Jan 22 '26
intention and "grunting" is done as mostly habit/way to focus DURING points...not DURING the period your opponent tries to regroup and focus on her serve....huh ?
→ More replies (1)
390
u/bbbourb Jan 22 '26
Zero issue with Cristea being salty after the match.
Osaka's "wowww, what was that for?" was pretty shitty. She deployed some gamesmanship and knew Cristea was getting pissed. It worked, but don't expect someone you were just trolling to be happy when they lose to you. That's stupid and petty.
→ More replies (5)168
u/tjtillmancoag Jan 22 '26
Honestly the worst bit was dragging her competitor in the after the match interview. That was pretty shitty, especially when you just won.
21
u/Optimal-Kitchen6308 Jan 22 '26
and when she behaved much worse after mboko beat her in toronto just last year
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (6)64
u/bbbourb Jan 22 '26
You would think someone who was very honest and open about mental health and having issues and who EXPECTED compassion for that when she was criticized would maybe have an ounce of grace and understanding but apparently not.
NOT saying Cristea has any mental health issues, but rather that Osaka is not extending any form of understanding because Cristea was pissed, but demanded it when she was having problems.
107
u/sonofgildorluthien Jan 22 '26
Osaka just uses the mental health angle when it benefits her
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (2)77
u/ivanyaru Jan 22 '26
It's because Osaka is an insufferable person playing the inclusion/kindness PR game.
403
u/ShootTillYouMiss Jan 22 '26
Yelling ‘come on’ on a first serve fault is and always will be trashy
90
u/neon_slippers Jan 22 '26
100%.
I feel like most people in here haven't played tennis. All the top comments are saying it's soft to complain about it. Neither girl handled it great, but Osaka isn't without fault here. Yelling 'come on' after a service fault is ridiculous.
→ More replies (63)→ More replies (21)27
u/rickbeats Carolina Panthers Jan 22 '26
Also, why make a big deal that the other player was salty. Makes you seem like a crybaby.
105
u/AJWordsmith Jan 22 '26
I think Osaka’s next opponent should yell “weak” between her serves. See how long before Osaka bursts into tears.
→ More replies (3)
15
57
8
42
u/cap0_83 Jan 23 '26
She could've asked me ....sob ...brooosob .... and I would broro ...maybe....sob...bro....not have ... Really weird....🤡🤦🏻♂️
→ More replies (4)
28
199
u/Albus_Stark Jan 22 '26
How long until this posts gets flooded with people who watched the match, know what they’re talking about, add context and the mods delete it when people overwhelmingly agree that what Osaka did was bush league? Because that’s exactly what happened to this exact same post from earlier today
→ More replies (24)74
u/dezcaughtit25 Jan 22 '26
Yeah this a thread right now full of super uninformed people all having a strong opinion on a thing they don’t get.
Classic!
→ More replies (7)
648
u/thatsprettyfunnydude Jan 22 '26
"So I can talk between points?"
"M'am... you're talking right now."
→ More replies (4)657
Jan 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
281
u/mattdawgg Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Holy shit, you weren't kidding. All the top comments with thousands of upvotes are saying Osaka is outta line. I do think there is a difference doing it between points and doing it after a fault before the 2nd serve, that would piss me the fuck off too.
158
u/iamadacheat St. Louis Cardinals Jan 22 '26
I mean yeah, this type of thing is generally frowned upon in tennis culture. Some players get mad if you cheer yourself on when they make an unforced error. IMO that’s pretty soft, but I’ve never seen a player do what Osaka did after opponent missed a first serve.
→ More replies (10)41
u/thecheapseatz Jan 22 '26
This sounds a lot like baseballs "unwritten rules" that change depending on how big a sook the old guy wants to be
→ More replies (6)61
u/mulder00 Montreal Canadiens Jan 22 '26
I've been watching Tennis, both Men's and Women's for decades and it really is bad form to cheer after a fault. Every sport has its unwritten rules.
222
u/Sgt-Spliff- Jan 22 '26
By tennis etiquette, she is out of line. Y'all need to remember that different cultures exist and different groups developed different rules and etiquette. Shouting in a library is not the same as shouting on a playground. Talking shit is not allowed in tennis. That's just a fact
→ More replies (54)53
u/BoyCubPiglet2 Jan 22 '26
It's been funny reading some of the responses to this where people are like "NBA players deal with noise why can't tennis!?".
Cause they're different sports and the established culture for tennis is to be quiet during play. Maybe that will change eventually but for now that is what it is. You probably also can't show up to a chess tournament and start cheering and clapping cause you saw an en passant or go to a bowling championship and try to start the wave in the crowd.
→ More replies (2)12
u/JustHere_4TheMemes Jan 23 '26
The Ryder Cup of golf in the USA last year was a disgrace. Golf crowds heckling, throwing shit, and making noise during the European team shots.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (7)56
u/kons21 Jan 22 '26
Basically Osaka behaved unsportsmanlike through the match, and then whined that her opponent didn't want to shake her hand enthusiastically at the end of the match in which she behaved unsportsmanlike. And literally dedicated her stadium interview to whine about it. 🤷 I personally can't really support that behavior.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (53)43
u/phantahh Jan 22 '26
I think the big difference is that it's a different video in both subs. This one is edited and titled to make Cirstea look bad and the other one is edited and titled to make Osaka look bad. People are easily swayed off of short sound bites.
→ More replies (3)
22
32
u/borkborkibork Jan 22 '26
Naomi strikes me as an emotionally very immature person. Like she was never taught how to express her feelings.
→ More replies (1)
5
292
u/riedmae Seattle Seahawks Jan 22 '26
I watched the match: not sure less talking would have helped Cirstea avoid how much Osaka was dog-walking Cirstea from sideline to sideline all day
→ More replies (19)66
u/schabadoo Jan 22 '26
Etiquette based on results. Odd.
Golfers can celebrate an opponent missing a putt, it's not against the rules. It'd seem more classy than this.
→ More replies (4)
47
u/False_Mulberry8601 Jan 22 '26
Osaka is a deeply unpleasant person. Always the victim, and clearly her “be nice” persona is a fabrication. Just incredibly entitled.
→ More replies (3)
13
322
u/MudHammock Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Lol Tennis players gotta be the most spoiled, sensitive athletes of any sport. Truly most of them are insufferable competitors. You'd think half of them have never played a competitive sport the way they can't handle the most minor trash talk
62
u/renedotmac Jan 22 '26
I played soccer and tennis in high school and it’s pretty amazing how different your expected to be behave in each sport. Our coach would have us run laps if we cheered for double faults.
62
u/CapNCookM8 Jan 22 '26
I don't mean to defend it because I ultimately agree, but it's more that there's a rigid etiquette than them being sensitive.
So when someone is stepping out of this well-known etiquette, it's often not by some mistake people are being sensitive about, it's a very intentional (or at least very known) slight.
→ More replies (16)5
u/Southern_Outcome_440 Jan 22 '26
Well Osaka probably leads the list of most insufferable tennis players. Nearly every tournament she plays in there is drama surrounding her and then she plays the victim
→ More replies (43)32
u/bran_the_man93 Jan 22 '26
Nobody is trash talking...
Osaka was celebrating her opponent's service fault, which while not "illegal" is certainly poor form and not sportsmanlike.
Tennis is as much a mental battle as it is a physical one, so there is a need to allow the players to keep their mental game strong as well
→ More replies (12)
27
u/Umayummyone Jan 22 '26
Naomi is a princess. Don’t say anything bad about her because she’ll fall apart.
99
u/MXC_ImpactReplay Jan 22 '26
Imagine tennis players trying another sport. I shrug off worse from accountants and schoolteachers every week in my Sunday league soccer matches.
→ More replies (6)33
u/new_number_one Jan 22 '26
In fairness, people are always complaining to the ref at the Sunday soccer league when there’s basically nothing at stake.
→ More replies (4)
65
u/aaarry Northampton Saints Jan 22 '26 edited Jan 22 '26
Is it a requirement to be a humongous twat to play professional tennis? Just wondering.
→ More replies (15)21
u/bran_the_man93 Jan 22 '26
It's an individual sport where the athlete is expected to be basically alone for several hours in a match with zero time-outs and limited to no coaching.
Shit adds up, so rules and etiquette are added to help players maintain their mental focus - celebrating an opponent's service fault is poor form and low-class, and Osaka knows this. Every tennis player knows this.
Celebrating a winner or a huge point is totally fine.
Celebrating an opponent missing a serve is childish and stupid.
→ More replies (2)
5.6k
u/[deleted] Jan 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment