Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka had the distinction of lighting the Olympic cauldron through the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Video games on Friday.

Osaka, a local of Japan, a four-time main champion and the second-ranked feminine participant on the earth, climbed the steps at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium on Friday night and lit the cauldron, marking the official begin of the Video games.

“Undoubtedly the best athletic achievement and honor I’ll ever have in my life,” she tweeted following the ceremony. “I’ve no phrases to explain the emotions I’ve proper now however I do know I’m presently full of gratefulness and thankfulness love you guys thanks.”

Osaka’s lighting of the cauldron accomplished a months-long relay that started in Fukushima in March. Based on the Olympics, the torch relay coated cities that account for 98% of Japan’s inhabitants. As well as, 98% of the nation was inside an hour’s journey of not less than one cease on the torch relay.

Osaka has grown into one of the in style tennis stars on the earth. Earlier this week, Sports activities Illustrated introduced that she would seem on the quilt its famed Swimsuit Version cowl.

The torch lighting additionally caps a whirlwind 12 months for Osaka, who claimed back-to-back Grand Slam wins within the 2020 U.S. Open and the 2021 Australian Open. She later pulled out of the French Open after a dispute over the event’s media availability coverage, which she mentioned was a detriment to her psychological well being. She then withdrew from Wimbledon, citing the necessity to take private time.

Osaka will participate within the Olympic event, the place she’ll be seeded second general.