NISHESH Basavareddy is a tennis superstar who has quickly become one of the most exciting players in the world.
The star faced off with Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open, having been inspired to take up the sport by his father.
Moving to America
Nishesh was born in Newport Beach, California, in 2005 to his mother Sai Prasanna and father Muralikrishna Basavereddy.
His parents are originally from Nellore, a city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
In 1999, the couple moved to the United States, initially settling in San Francisco.
The family then moved to southern California, where Nishesh was born, and then to Carmel, Indiana, when he turned eight.
They relocated to Carmel when his father, Muralikrishna, started working for the Japanese car company Toyota.
It was in Newport Beach, California, where Nishesh first became interested in tennis.
Nishesh told Indian Tennis Daily: “My dad used to play for fun in Irvine and my brother started playing a little bit then.
“I started playing at the local club.
“I started playing some local tournaments in the last year and a half that was there.”
Rising star
When he was just eight years old, Nishesh’s family moved to Carmel, Indiana.
Nishesh continued to train, having been inspired by his father, and won the Boys Doubles title at the US Open 2022.
The tennis player was just 17-years-old at the time.
He landed a spot on the top 200, at No.199, on September 30, 2024, cementing his position as one of the best players in the world.
Competing against Djokovic
On January 13, 2025, Nishesh competed against Novak Djokovic at the Australian 2025 Open.
Nishesh made a strong start against Djokovic but was ultimately unable to beat the tennis legend.
Although Nishesh was defeated in his debut appearance, fans have commended his ability to go toe-to-toe with a player like Djokovic.
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