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Naomi Osaka lights cauldron at 2021 Tokyo Olympics

The four-time Grand Slam winner gets the Games officially underway in Tokyo.

Naomi Osaka of Team Japan carries the Olympic torch towards the Olympic cauldron during the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 23, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo by Dylan Martinez - Pool/Getty Images

While a resident of the United States, Naomi Osaka is a citizen and native of Japan. And her worldwide sporting accomplishments gave her the honor to light the cauldron at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics on Friday.

Osaka was taking a break from tennis ahead of the Games after a difficult bout with anxiety and the media at the French Open earlier this year. But she’ll be one of the favorites to win a gold medal for her country over the two weeks.

The Chūō-ku, Osaka born Osaka moved to Long Island at age 3, but took her Mother’s last name early in life because it made the most sense for a young woman born in Japan, where the family name is said first before the individual name.

It’s been quite a week for Osaka, who was also on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and got into a back-and-forth about it with a political commentator about it. But we’ll bet lighting the flame is the thing she’ll remember most from all of it.