

The Olympics opening ceremony is ongoing and Japanese Tennis star Naomi Osaka is lighting the flame at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo.
Osaka is the no.2 ranked WTA star at the moment. She is a four-time grand slam champion and is the reigning Australian Open and US Open champion.
Osaka, who is a huge fan favorite, has been given the honor in the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 after a controversial campaign in her grand slam calendar year.
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Fans and experts around the world have taken to social media to express their joy and happiness for Osaka being recognized as the person to light up the cauldron in a ceremony overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All hail Queen @NaomiOsaka! #Olympics pic.twitter.com/CvGjYnBtyf
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 23, 2021
Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron 👏 #Tokyo2020
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) July 23, 2021
✨🔥 Naomi Osaka 🔥✨
— We Are Tennis France (@WeAreTennisFR) July 23, 2021
The Olympic Cauldron has been lit! 🔥@naomiosaka does the honours as the curtain rises on #Tokyo2020. #OpeningCeremony | #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/6bYlwnMDfh
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) July 23, 2021
Soooo cool for Naomi Osaka. What a moment
— Laura Robson (@laurarobson5) July 23, 2021
British star Laura Robson took to Twitter to show her joy for Osaka’s iconic moment.
That was cool, not gonna lie! pic.twitter.com/ARYfcE5DA7
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) July 23, 2021
Official Twitter handle of the US Open also honored their champion, as she enjoys one of the most iconic moments of her professional career.
Iconic.
🇯🇵 Naomi Osaka lights the flame for #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/fPa54K7onx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 23, 2021
Actually I’m crying now. So proud of her and this honor! 😃🔥 pic.twitter.com/XmhNi2RXhp
— LaWanda (@lawanda50) July 23, 2021
Tennis is alive https://t.co/1MUHADw2So
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 23, 2021
https://twitter.com/lobdowntheline/status/1418584182108958723
Former American Tennis star, Brad Gilbert, also took to Twitter to react to Osaka’s awe-inspiring moment.
What a moment!!!! pic.twitter.com/X2eVVoMMVk
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 23, 2021
NFL star Ben Rothenberg acknowledged the Japanese Tennis star lighting the Olympic cauldron.
Naomi Osaka lights the Olympic cauldron.
Very, very cool moment for Japan and for tennis.#Olympics
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) July 23, 2021
Famous journalist Jon Wertheim also doubled down on Osaka’s moment of glory.
Naomi Osaka ….
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) July 23, 2021
Naomi. Osaka.#Tokyo2020
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) July 23, 2021
NAOMI! pic.twitter.com/fslE9oLgYW
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 23, 2021
what a fucking cool image pic.twitter.com/Zw59gMKUk3
— Matthew Willis (@mattracquet) July 23, 2021
All hail Queen @NaomiOsaka! #Olympics pic.twitter.com/CvGjYnBtyf
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) July 23, 2021
It was truly a beautiful moment as one of the best tennis players on the planet got the moment of glory to lighten the Olympic cauldron. This will remain the highlight of her illustrious career.
Osaka deserves every bit of the glory she is getting, as she has been nothing short of phenomenal as an athlete in recent years. Needless to say, her fans and supporters are more than content to see her get this honor.
When is Naomi Osaka back in action at the Olympics?
Osaka withdrew from the French Open after the first round of the tournament. She reasoned unfair treatment from the media as the cause behind her withdrawal.
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She also didn’t take part in the Wimbledon. But Osaka is on board with her country, Japan, and is one of their biggest bets for Olympic gold in the tournament.

via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – May 30, 2021 Picture taken May 30, 2021 Japan’s Naomi Osaka reacts during her first round match against Romania’s Patricia Maria Tig REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
Osaka was set to take on Zheng Saisai in the first round of the tournament on Saturday. However, her match has been pushed back a day to Sunday.
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There has been no official statement released to address the cause of the postponed contest. Nevertheless, fans will keep a close eye on how the superstar player fares at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.
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