Nishesh Basavareddy may have lost his debut match at the Australian Open, but he won hearts, including that of his opponent and idol Novak Djokovic.
Though the 19-year-old American talent lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, he got a standing ovation for his performance at his first Grand Slam at the Rod Laver Arena, against Djokovic who was coached by his former tennis rival, Andy Murray.
Basavareddy defeated the 24-time major Grand Slam champion in the first set, with some deft drop shots and lobs. But, Djokovic came roaring back and wore down the youngster to begin his bid for the 25th major title overall.
“He was a better player for the first set and a half, and he deserves every bit of applause that he got,” Djokovic said about Basavareddy after the match. “Very complete player.
Basavareddy, reportedly has Djokovic's photo as his WhatsApp profile picture.
“He did very pleasantly surprise me with all of his shots and his fighting spirit toward the end. He didn't get carried away by the significance of the moment. I am sure we will see a lot of him in the future,” the 37-year-old said.
In the second set of the match, Basavareddy suffered from cramps, and he had to be treated for it before he could continue playing. He has a history of medical trauma, having suffered a knee injury in 2016, when his kneecap dislocated during a tournament. He also suffered a meniscus tear during a tournament in 2018.
Nishesh Basavareddy's personal life
Basavareddy is an American of Indian origin. He was born on May 2, 2005, and is the second son of Sai Prasanna and Muralikrishna Basavareddy. His parents hail from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. The family moved to the United States in 1999.
A former student at Stanford University, he turned pro last month. He started going to the tennis court with his brother, Nishanth, at the age of three. On December 5, 2024, he put up a post on Instagram, “Since I started playing tennis at 3 years old, it’s been my dream to be a pro tennis player. Thanks to the support from my friends and family, coaches, Stanford family, and the USTA, I can live out my childhood dream. With that being said, I will be forgoing my NCAA eligibility to play pro tennis. Looking forward to what the future holds”.
Basavareddy is currently being coached by Bryan Smith, who also coached Rajeev Sam, former World No. 1 in doubles and Olympic medallist (2016, 2024). Sam supports and mentors him.
In 2024, Basavareddy won two challenger titles and entered the finals in four games. He reached World No. 199 in September, 2024, and by November, he became World No. 139. The year had been rewarding for him, having qualified for the Next Gen ATP Finals, Jeddah.