Naomi Osaka’s awkward interview after victory over Garbine Muguruza

Naomi Osaka is renowned for her soft-spoken persona, but the Japanese powerhouse has delivered one of her most cringe-worthy moments.

Naomi Osaka of Japan.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka is renowned for her soft-spoken persona, and has featured in several awkward interviews throughout the years.

But the world No. 3 delivered one of her most cringe-worthy moments after Sunday’s 4-6 6-4 6-4 comeback victory over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza at Rod Laver Arena.

Speaking to Brett Phillips, Osaka had a brutal response to his opening “question”.

“Wow, that was worthy of a grand slam final,” Phillips started.

“What a match, Naomi. You pulled out the big stuff when you needed it most — to save match points. You talked about the fight you had to show in your last match that you were impressed with.

“Well, today you had to take it to another level against a quality opponent.”

After pausing briefly, Osaka replied with a giggle: “Um, that wasn’t a question.”

The 23-year-old continued: “But yeah, I feel like today I didn’t really know what to expect because I’ve never played her before. But I just knew it was going to be tough. I’m kind of tired right now.”

"That wasn't a question."

Just when you thought Naomi Osaka couldn't get better, she's calling out poor sport interviewing!

— Luke Costin (@LukeCostin) February 14, 2021

Osaka not impressed with on court Interviewer either. Looks blankly "Was that a question?" #ausopen

— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) February 14, 2021

Osaka had to come back from two match points down in the third set against Muguruza, before peeling off four straight games right at the moment she looked dead and buried.

The Japanese sensation left tennis commentators blown away with her game-management after she made a tactical retreat not to fight fire with fire.

With Muguruza spanking everything that came back over the net, Osaka pulled her own strokes in a bit to extend rallies before picking her moments to pull the trigger.

LIVE BLOG: Australian Open day seven

Japan's Naomi Osaka celebrates her victory.

READ MORE: Second tennis player tests positive

The normally stoic star was full of emotion as she went down a break at 3-2 in the third set and appeared both rattled and irritated.

Osaka had to defend two match points when serving at 5-3 to stay in the match. Like she does so often, she found her mojo right when she was dipping her toes over the abyss of defeat.

The No. 3 seed now faces Taiwanese Hsieh Su-wei in the quarter-finals.

Muguruza had been in freakish form this summer, having not dropped a set at the Australian Open before she came up against Osaka.

The 27-year-old Spaniard also won every set she played at the Yarra Valley Classic before meeting Australia’s Ash Barty in the final.