{"id":43168,"date":"2025-07-15T07:00:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T01:30:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/?post_type=story&#038;p=43168"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:04:07","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T09:34:07","slug":"game-and-identity-the-rise-of-indian-american-tennis-pro-nishesh-basavareddy","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/cover-story\/game-and-identity-the-rise-of-indian-american-tennis-pro-nishesh-basavareddy\/","title":{"rendered":"Game and Identity: The rise of Indian-American tennis pro Nishesh Basavareddy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>(July 15, 2025) <\/strong>At 19, Nishesh Basavareddy walked onto the court at the 2025 Australian Open as a rising American star, facing none other than his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic. For most, it would be a moment filled with nerves. For Nishesh, now 20, it was the culmination of years of determination. A milestone whose foundation wasn\u2019t laid under stadium lights, but in a warm household in Newport Beach, where the aroma of Indian spices mingled with the clatter of tennis racquets and echoes of childhood dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The young tennis star&#8217;s ascent is shaped by family, culture, and grit. Its an Indian-American journey written in tennis scores.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43177\" style=\"width: 807px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43177\" class=\"wp-image-43177 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy.jpg\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy\" width=\"797\" height=\"443\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy.jpg 797w, https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-480x267.jpg 480w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 797px, 100vw\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 797px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 797\/443;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43177\" class=\"wp-image-43177\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy.jpg\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy\" width=\"797\" height=\"443\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy.jpg 797w, https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-480x267.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 797px, 100vw\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-43177\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nishesh Basavareddy<\/p><\/div>\n<p><b style=\"color: #333333; font-size: 26px;\">A family that swings together<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI started playing tennis when I was three,\u201d Nishesh recalled in an interview. \u201cMy dad played recreationally. He always played with us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Basavareddy home was a place of discipline, academics, and spirited sibling rivalry. His older brother Nishant, who competed in the same age group, remembered clearly: \u201cHe was already better than me when he was seven, and I was ten.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They played doubles. They entered the same tournaments. But when scheduled to face each other in official matches, the family often withdrew. However, Nishesh\u2019s competitive fire burned early. It didn\u2019t matter to him if it was Nishant or anyone else. He wanted to win either way.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI was always in the top three in my year,\u201d Nishesh said. \u201cI thought about pro tennis as a dream, but it felt far away.\u201d The groundwork, though, was already in motion.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>The dual cultural upbringing<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What makes Nishesh\u2019s story so resonant is not just where he\u2019s headed but where he comes from. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMy dad\u2019s the one that made the move from India to here,\u201d he shared. \u201cMaybe he didn\u2019t have that many resources, but he worked hard his whole life to give my brother and me opportunities to play tennis, which I really appreciate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43173\" style=\"width: 752px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43173\" class=\"wp-image-43173 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with his parents and brother, Nishant\" width=\"742\" height=\"495\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant.webp 4096w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-2048x1366.webp 2048w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1080x720.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1280x854.webp 1280w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-980x654.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-480x320.webp 480w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 742px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 742\/495;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43173\" class=\"wp-image-43173\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with his parents and brother, Nishant\" width=\"742\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant.webp 4096w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1536x1025.webp 1536w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-2048x1366.webp 2048w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1080x720.webp 1080w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-1280x854.webp 1280w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-980x654.webp 980w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-his-parents-and-brother-Nishant-480x320.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 742px) 100vw, 742px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-43173\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nishesh Basavareddy with his parents and brother, Nishant<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both his parents hail from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, and moved to San Francisco in 1999 before settling in Indiana. The household they built carried the soul of India: \u201cMy favourite aspect of Indian culture is the food. When I\u2019m home, my mom cooks every day. I eat Indian food most nights,\u201d mentioned Nishesh.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The family watched Indian movies, celebrated festivals, and stayed rooted in Telugu traditions. \u201cWe grew more Americanized at school,\u201d said his brother Nishant, \u201cbut there\u2019s still the food, the movies, the music. These are the things that keep us very Indian.\u201d While for the parents, their <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kids\u2019 dream is their dream. They happily support whatever they do.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Stanford, setbacks, and the leap<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nishesh joined Standford University in 2022. However, by the time the recruiting process in the institution&#8217;s tennis team began, he was facing challenges. \u201cI was injured for a lot of that period,\u201d he said. \u201cCoaches had to take a bit of a gamble on me.\u201d <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanford took the bet, and it paid off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2024, Nishesh Basavareddy was named Pac-12 Singles Player of the Year and earned All-American honours for the second time, an elite designation awarded to the top-performing college athletes in the United States. That same year, he turned pro. \u201cThe end goal was always to turn pro,\u201d he admitted. \u201cIt was just a matter of when.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He surpassed expectations: two ATP Challenger titles, a 41\u201313 season record, and a career-high ATP singles ranking of No. 99 by June 2025. His performance earned him a wildcard into the Australian Open.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong>Facing his idol on the world stage<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPlaying Djokovic is something I\u2019ll never forget,\u201d Nishesh said about his debut at the 2025 Australian Open. \u201cThat walkout, with everyone clapping and then seeing the 10-time champion across the net &#8211; it was unreal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43176\" style=\"width: 780px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43176\" class=\"wp-image-43176 size-full lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with Novak Djokovics\" width=\"770\" height=\"436\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing.webp 770w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-768x435.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-480x272.webp 480w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 770px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 770\/436;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43176\" class=\"wp-image-43176 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with Novak Djokovics\" width=\"770\" height=\"436\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing.webp 770w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-300x170.webp 300w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-768x435.webp 768w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Sports-Nishesh-Basavareddy-Earned-Novak-Djokovics-Praise-After-Strong-Australian-Open-Showing-480x272.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-43176\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nishesh Basavareddy with Novak Djokovics<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Djokovic returned the respect. \u201cHe was the better player for a set and a half,\u201d the Serbian legend said after the match, applauding the young player\u2019s poise and performance. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI appreciated those words a lot,\u201d said Nishesh.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Off the court, the recognition continued. \u201cWe were at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens,\u201d his breother Nishant recalled, \u201cand someone stopped him to say they loved his attitude on court. That\u2019s what makes us proud.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>The diaspora\u2019s legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Indian-Americans have carved out legacies in fields like tech and medicine, their presence in professional tennis has been sparse. With young talents like Nishesh and few other young champions entering the global stage, a new chapter is emerging. Their ascent marks a powerful shift where Indian-American athletes are not just participating in elite tennis, but shaping its future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the early believers in Nishesh\u2019s potential was Rajeev Ram, a decorated American tennis player and former world No. 1 in men\u2019s doubles, known for his consistency and longevity on the pro tour. A six-time Grand Slam champion and two-time Olympic silver medalist, he has set a high bar for Indian-American excellence in the sport and is known as an athlete who blazed his own path on the professional circuit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI remember Brian Smith, my coach, saying \u2018I think I got a pretty special one here,\u2019\u201d Rajeev recalled about Nishesh. Both of them shared the same coach. \u201cHe just soaked up information. There haven\u2019t been many of us in pro tennis. I hope he can say he looked up to me the way I looked up to others.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nishesh did. \u201cRajeev kind of mentored me from junior to college to pro tennis. Seeing someone who had the same journey and made it. It gave my family peace of mind. It showed me it could be done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43175\" style=\"width: 585px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43175\" class=\"wp-image-43175 lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with Rajeev Ram\" width=\"575\" height=\"593\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram.webp 642w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram-291x300.webp 291w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram-480x495.webp 480w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 575px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 575\/593;\" \/><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43175\" class=\"wp-image-43175 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram.webp\" alt=\"Nishesh Basavareddy with Rajeev Ram\" width=\"575\" height=\"593\" srcset=\"https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram.webp 642w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram-291x300.webp 291w, https:\/\/old.globalindian.com\/youth\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nishesh-Basavareddy-with-Rajeev-Ram-480x495.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 575px) 100vw, 575px\" \/><\/noscript><p id=\"caption-attachment-43175\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nishesh Basavareddy with Rajeev Ram in 2017 | Photo Credit: Smith Tennis<\/p><\/div>\n<h3><strong>Looking ahead, playing big<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now ranked World No. 99 and coming off a semifinal run in Auckland, Nishesh travels with his brother, competes against idols he once only saw on TV, and carries with him the strength of two worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt means a lot to do this as my job now,\u201d he said. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect it to come this fast. But I\u2019m really enjoying it and looking forward to the future.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the schoolbooks and video games of his Indiana childhood, to Grand Slam courts and center-stage applause, Nishesh Basavareddy has only just begun. While his path winds through global tennis, every swing of his racquet echoes a story rooted in tradition, sharpened by sacrifice, and propelled by belief in his abilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Follow Nishesh Basavareddy on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/nishesh05\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram <\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalindian.com\/youth\/story\/global-indian-exclusive\/prithika-pavade-frances-top-table-tennis-player-with-puducherry-roots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Prithika Pavade: France\u2019s top table tennis player with Puducherry roots<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(July 15, 2025) At 19, Nishesh Basavareddy walked onto the court at the 2025 Australian Open as a rising American star, facing none other than his childhood idol, Novak Djokovic. For most, it would be a moment filled with nerves. For Nishesh, now 20, it was the culmination of years of determination. A milestone whose foundation wasn\u2019t laid under stadium lights, but in a warm household in Newport Beach, where the aroma of Indian spices mingled with the clatter of tennis racquets and echoes of childhood dreams. The young tennis star&#8217;s ascent is shaped by family, culture, and grit. Its [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":43170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","story-category":[215,2248],"story-tag":[188,3762,24],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The rise of Indian-American tennis pro Nishesh Basavareddy<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Tennis star Nishesh Basavareddy&#039;s ascent is shaped by family, culture, and grit. 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