Naomi Osaka is a player who has achieved a lot by just the age of 24. She claimed four Grand Slams and the ranking of World No.1 in the era dominated by Serena Williams. Hence, undoubtedly, a gem for the entire tennis fraternity. However, she is a little more important to Asian fans.

Osaka acts as the flag bearer for Asia on tours. She has brought pride and several records to the continent. Therefore, the Tokyo Olympics honored Osaka by allowing her to carry the torch.

Naomi Osaka starting the Tokyo Olympics

Osaka, apart from excelling on the court, has always been outspoken about social evils and matters that concern the peace of society. Hence, who would have possibly been better than her for lighting the Olympic cauldron at her home game?

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At the age of 23, she carried the rose gold torch resembling the famous cherry blossoms of Japan and ignited the Olympic cauldron. Now, a year after, the Olympics commemorated the event and shared the clip of the Japanese smiling and carrying out the procedure. And wrote, “Naomi Osaka lit the cauldron a year ago at the opening ceremony.” Which she later proudly shared on her Instagram handle.

The Olympic cauldron is the final home of the flame that reaches the host country after traveling around the world, with Grece being the mother nation. The torch rally lasted 121 days in last year’s games.

What is Osaka up to?

Naomi Osaka hasn’t given any noteworthy run since her Miami Open finals run. The former World no.1, after regaining her peak in the hard court of Miami, jumped on the season of red dirt. However, proving true to her records she failed in the clay this year as well. She touched her lowest this season by walking out of the French Open in the opening round only.

Following that, Osaka missed the warm-up events on grass and withdrew from the Wimbledon championships citing an Achilles injury. Since then, she hasn’t taken part in any tournament, and news of her comeback is yet to arrive.

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Though fans wish to see her in the upcoming WTA 1000 events of hard court. What are your expectations from the two times US Open champion?