Nishesh Basavareddy, Novak Djokovic’s 19-year-old opponent, captivated both spectators and commentators with his incredible show of ability and tenacity as he set out to recapture the Australian Open championship. Despite Djokovic’s eventual victory in the opening round, Basavareddy’s performance was memorable; the young American defeated the tennis veteran in the opening set.
A Brave Debut for Basavareddy
Even though he was up against one of the greatest idols in sports, Basavareddy refused to give up. The match was the longest of his career, lasting two hours and fifty-nine minutes, or over three hours. Basavareddy shocked everyone by coming out strong and pushing the world number one to the limit in Djokovic’s first match of the 2025 season, which is now being coached by old adversary Andy Murray.
Although Djokovic eventually prevailed 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, Basavareddy’s Grand Slam debut demonstrated his untapped ability and tenacity. Basavareddy, who is well-known for his devotion and affection for Djokovic, was so inspired by the Serbian star that he even made the image his WhatsApp display image.
as not without difficulties. In 2016 and 2018, Basavareddy had knee surgery, but each time he came back to the court in better shape.
Basavareddy had notable success on the professional circuit in 2024. He placed second in four more events and won two Challenger championships in Tiburon and Puerto Vallarta. Because of his steady play, he was invited to the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, where he defeated Chinese player Juncheng Shang to gain his first tour-level victory.
Basavareddy balanced studies and athletics for two productive years at Stanford University prior to making his professional debut. He refined his talents and got ready for the next phase of his tennis career during his stay at Stanford, where he assisted the team in winning a number of crucial games. After graduating from college, Basavareddy became pro, and by the end of 2024, his ATP ranking had risen from No. 457 in the beginning of the year to No. 138.
Nishesh Basavareddy’s Outstanding 2025 Season Launch
Basavareddy had a strong start to the 2025 season after making it to the main draws of the Auckland Open and the Brisbane International. He became the youngest American since Reilly Opelka in 2016 to advance to a hardcourt quarterfinal in Auckland. Even though Basavareddy lost to eventual winner Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals, his performance demonstrated his promise.
Respect for Djokovic
Basavareddy has always been a fan of Novak Djokovic and has frequently mentioned the 24-time Grand Slam champion as one of his main sources of inspiration. After his stellar performance in Auckland, Basavareddy revealed, “He’s always been my favorite, but I’ve looked up to a lot of different players and modelled my game after them.”
For the young American, facing Djokovic in Melbourne was a turning point in his career. Despite acknowledging that he didn’t know much about Basavareddy prior to their encounter, Djokovic was gushing over the 19-year-old’s skill and tenacity. For a set and a half, he was a better player. After the match, Djokovic said, “He deserved every bit of applause he got when he left the court.” I must admit that until three or four days ago, I had never seen him perform. I knew very little about him. When you are against someone who has nothing to lose, these matches are always difficult. It was his first-ever Slam match. I was pleasantly impressed by all of his shots and his perseverance in the end. For the remainder of his career, I hope the best for him.
