Novak Djokovic praise debutant Nishesh Basavareddy's performance after winning against him at the Australian Open. The 19-year-old Indian-origin player took the first set, but it was Djokovic who had the last laugh.
The 37-year-old took his game to another level and snatched a win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to move into the second round. Djokovic had a lean patch in 2024 as he failed to win a single Grand Slam in 2024.
But he claimed the gold medal at the Paris Olympics and now the onus will be on him to deliver in Australia. "In the end, it was great. He was the better player for a set and a half. He deserves every bit of applause he got when exiting the court."
Praise doesn't get much higher @DjokerNole is full of admiration for Nishesh following their first round encounter #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/mIDltHGWfD
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 13, 2025
"It was a good performance. To be really honest with you, I have never seen him play up to 2-3 days ago. I didn't know much about him." Djokovic further added that he didn’t have any idea about the Indian-origin player and these kinds of games are always tricky.
"This kind of matchups are always tricky and dangerous, you are playing somebody who has nothing to lose. Just a very complete player, pleasantly surprised with all of his shots. Wish him all the best for the rest of his career."
Who is Nishesh Basavaredy?
Born in Newport Beach, California, in 2005 to Indian parents, Sai Prasanna and Muralikrishna Basavareddy, Nishesh carries a rich cultural heritage. His parents, originally from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, relocated to the United States in 1999, first settling in San Francisco before moving to Southern California.
Basavareddy grew up alongside his older brother Nishanth, who also shares a love for tennis. Their father, a tennis enthusiast, introduced both siblings to the sport at a young age.
Under the mentorship of coach Bryan Smith, Basavareddy’s talent blossomed, and he soon found guidance from Indiana-native and former doubles World No. 1 Rajeev Ram, who continues to be a mentor.
In 2024, Basavareddy made significant strides by claiming two Challenger titles in Puerto Vallarta and Tiburon while finishing runner-up in four other tournaments. His consistent performances secured him a spot at the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, where he recorded his first tour-level victory by defeating Juncheng Shang of China.