A week ago, Sumit Nagal tried to sum up his feelings ahead of taking part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In a post on twitter, the 23-year-old Indian admitted his participation was “surreal” and that “no words can express my emotions”.

Seven days later, on the day of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the world No. 160 still believes words can’t do justice to his pride at being involved in the world’s biggest sporting occasion.

“I don’t have words to express my feelings,” he reiterated on Friday after practicing with Belarusian Egor Gerasimov under the sweltering late morning sun at the Ariake Tennis Park. “[It’s great] being in Tokyo, one of my favourite cities, and being in Japan. When I heard the next Olympics was going to be in Japan, I was so excited. My goal was to make it.

“I was so happy the day I woke up and I saw the email [confirming his participation]. I was like… wow. Let’s say I was almost crying.

“It’s incredible, man. To represent my country, my first Olympics… I think it’s what everyone as an athlete wishes for.”

When he takes on Denis Istomin in Saturday's second match on Court 10, Nagal will become just the third Indian man to compete in singles at an Olympic Games since Leander Paes won bronze at Atlanta 1996.

“It’s incredible for me, for my family,” he said. “It’s a pretty big thing. I’m very, very excited. I’m a little bit nervous also – it’s my first time, so it’s normal, but I’m going to give my best.”

Nagal will be the first Indian player – man or woman – to play singles at a Games since Vishnu Vardhan and Somdev Devvarman at London 2012. He is becoming familiar with achieving milestone moments for his India, a tennis nation more accustomed to doubles success in recent times.

One such success story is Sania Mirza, who has achieved her own goal of returning to tennis and reaching her fourth Olympic Games, where she will partner Ankita Raina against Ukrainian sisters Liudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok in the first round.

Given his own reverence for the Olympic Games, Nagal is in awe of what Mirza has achieved since her debut at Beijing 2008.

"It’s a pretty big thing, playing… I think she’s 34, becoming a mother, having a kid, not playing for a few years, coming back from injury and to represent the country at the Olympics again. It’s a huge thing. It’s incredible what she’s doing," he said. "I’m pretty sure she’s motivating a lot of people back home."

Nevertheless, in spite of the recent memorable moments for Mirza, and the likes of Paes, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in the team format, India’s thirst for a champion singles player remains unquenched, for now.

Last year, when he won his opening round match against American Bradley Klahn at the US Open, Nagal became the first Indian man to win a Grand Slam main draw match in… “seven years,” Nagal interjects, with a chuckle.

You get the sense he’s heard that stat a few times before.

“That was a good match, a good tournament,” he reflects. “I played Klahn, and then [Dominic] Thiem [who went on to win his first Grand Slam title]. It was a nice tournament. I really enjoyed it. I was playing good tennis. You learn a lot from those matches, especially playing people like Thiem, Federer, Nadal. What they do is amazing.”

Nagal may not have to wait long for more big-stage experience in the week ahead. He could face second seed Daniil Medvedev in the second round but first, of course, he must get past a wily competitor in Istomin.

“Everyone is good here,” Nagal said. “Everyone’s playing for their country. There’s a lot of pressure. Every match is a tough match. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be a battle - all the matches here will be I think.”