Japan on Sunday hailed Naomi Osaka's stunning upset against the legendary Serena Williams to win the US Open, giving the nation some rare good news after a summer of deadly natural disasters.
"Congratulations on your victory at the US Open. The first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam title. Thank you for giving energy and inspiration to the whole of Japan," the premier tweeted.
"It still hasn't sunk in for me yet. The moment she won, my wife and I rejoiced together. I was so happy, I cried," he told public broadcaster NHK.
"I hope she stays healthy and continues her good work. I also hope she wins at the Tokyo Olympics [in 2020]," he said.
Osaka's "tenacious and patient performance ... must have been a great show of encouragement to those Japanese people who saw damage from such things as typhoons and earthquakes," Fukui told Japanese media.
"Osaka wins women's US Open, becomes first Japanese to win Grand Slam," blared the broadcaster's top headline.
Sports Nippon newspaper said Osaka had achieved a "complete victory" against an "irritated Serena who broke her racket".
The final will probably be remembered for a meltdown from Williams who called the chair umpire a "thief" as much as for the 20-year-old Osaka's historic win.
After earning US$3.8 million (Dh14m) for the victory, Osaka said her next goal was a simple one: to win her next tournament in Tokyo.
Asked if she was prepared for the reception she will receive as the country's first grand slam winner, Osaka said: "Apparently not, because people keep asking me that."
Japan remains a fairly homogenous country and mixed race children - especially those with black heritage - can often face prejudice, although attitudes among younger generations are changing.
"Her interview showed that she is clearly Japanese - regardless of where she was born, where she grew up, the colour of her skin and the language that she speaks," said one fan on Twitter.
"You are the pride of Japan."