Nishesh Basavareddy, a 19-year-old tennis player of Indian origin, is set to make his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open next year. Having recently participated in the qualifying draw of the 2024 US Open, Basavareddy achieved notable results in Challenger events at Charlottesville, Knoxville, and Champaign, securing a wildcard for Melbourne with two finals and a semi-final appearance.
Basavareddy, currently ranked 152nd in the ATP standings, spent the past year honing his skills, including training sessions with top players like Carlos Alcaraz in Turin. He concluded this May ranked 12th in the ITA singles and received the Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year award while studying at Stanford University.
Supported financially by The Rajeev Ram Foundation, Basavareddy acknowledged the crucial role of such backing, especially advice from Rajeev Ram, who transitioned from junior to professional tennis after his stint at the University of Illinois.
Basavareddy’s recent achievements include reaching the semi-finals at the Little Rock Challenger, breaking into the top-400, finishing as a finalist in Bloomfield Hills, and winning his first Challenger Trophy in Tiburon. Despite losing to Hamad Medjedovic in the third round of the US Open qualifiers, his progress has been significant.
Basavareddy will participate in the Next Gen ATP Finals, an event he considers a great platform for young talents not yet in the main tour spotlight. Reflecting on the event, he noted its role in showcasing emerging players, citing past winners like Carlos Alcaraz as inspirations.
