In a thrilling first-round match at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic faced off against 19-year-old wildcard Nishesh Basavareddy. Despite Djokovic’s eventual victory with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, it was Basavareddy’s impressive performance that stole the show.
Basavareddy, who only turned professional a few weeks ago, displayed remarkable skill and determination, even managing to take the first set from the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Djokovic, known for his sportsmanship, had nothing but praise for the young American of Indian origin.
“I think he was the better player for a set and a half, and he deserves every bit of applause that he got when he was exiting the court,” Djokovic said during his on-court interview. “Great performance. Basavareddy would’ve been a new name and face to many Australian Open fans. And even Djokovic knew little about the young star.”
Djokovic continued to heap praise on Basavareddy, acknowledging his fighting spirit and overall game. “He’s a nice boy. I mean, he’s a teenager still. I think if he keeps going this way, honestly, as I said, he didn’t get carried away by the significance of the moment. It’s not easy stepping out on the centre court for the first time and handling the nerves and all. He’s handed himself really, really well so I’m sure we’ll see a lot of him in the future.”
The match was Basavareddy’s first Grand Slam appearance, and he certainly made a memorable debut. Djokovic was also surprised to learn that Basavareddy had a photo of him as his WhatsApp display picture, which added a personal touch to the encounter.
Basavareddy’s journey to the Australian Open has been nothing short of remarkable. He recently played in the Next Gen ATP Finals and qualified for his first official ATP Tour main draw at the Brisbane International before reaching his maiden semi-final in Auckland. His performance against Djokovic has only solidified his potential as a future
Nishesh Basavareddy in 2025
Currently ranked no.107 (career-high), the American played his last match on the 13th of January when he surrendered to world no.7 Novak Djokovic 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the 1st round of the Australian Open (draw).
Currently, during this season Nishesh has achieved a 7-3 record. Nishesh Basavareddy’s most significant accomplishment of the year was reaching the semifinal in Auckland.