Advantage Nellore: Rising NextGen ATP Star Nishesh Basavareddy Earns US Open Wildcard

When the United States Tennis Association announced its 2025 US Open wildcard recipients on Wednesday, one name stood out among the six Americans earning main draw berths: Nishesh Basavareddy, a 20-year-old rising star whose journey from junior tennis excellence to ATP prominence mirrors that of the sport’s greatest champions.

Basavareddy joins fellow Americans Brandon Holt, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic, and Darwin Blanch in receiving wildcards into the year’s final Grand Slam tournament, according to the ATP Tour. The announcement marks another milestone for the #NextGenATP player who has experienced a remarkable ascent up the professional tennis ladder over the past year.

Born on May 2, 2005, Basavareddy’s tennis credentials were established early through his success in elite junior competitions. According to multiple tennis sources, the California native won the prestigious Orange Bowl under-14 boys singles title, joining an exclusive group of champions that includes tennis legends Roger Federer, Jimmy Connors, and Andre Agassi, who all claimed the competition at various age brackets during their formative years.

His junior achievements extended beyond individual success. Basavareddy represented the United States at the World Junior Team Finals in the Czech Republic as part of the under-14 team, demonstrating his ability to compete at the highest international junior levels. The culmination of his amateur career came at the 2022 US Open, where he and partner Ozan Baris captured the boys’ doubles title, according to his ATP Tour profile.

With his combination of elite junior pedigree, collegiate success, and growing professional achievements, he embodies the next generation of American tennis talent.

From Stanford to Professional Success

The Indian-American player, whose parents immigrated from Nellore, India to San Francisco in 1999, took his talents to Stanford University, where he competed as a blue-chip prospect before transitioning to professional tennis. After graduating from Carmel High School in Indiana, where he moved at age eight, Basavareddy reached as high as No. 5 in the ITF Junior U18 Rankings before making his professional debut.

Basavareddy’s professional career gained significant momentum in 2024 and 2025. He captured two ATP Challenger titles, providing the foundation for his climb into the ATP rankings. According to the ATP Tour, he reached a career-high ranking of world No. 99 on June 23, 2025, briefly cracking the coveted top 100.

His first ATP Tour match victory came at the 2024 Next Gen Finals, where he defeated China’s Shang Juncheng. However, it was his Grand Slam debut at the 2025 Australian Open that truly announced his arrival on tennis’s biggest stage. Facing 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the first round, Basavareddy managed to claim a set from the Serbian legend before ultimately falling in four sets—a performance that demonstrated his ability to compete with the sport’s elite.

The 2025 season has seen Basavareddy build on his Australian Open breakthrough with additional ATP Tour victories. He has recorded main draw wins against Francisco Comesana, Alejandro Tabilo, Alex Michelsen (who reached the Canadian Open quarterfinals), and Aleksandar Vukic. Most recently, he defeated Vukic in the first round of the Cincinnati Open before falling to Alexander Zverev in the second round.

Currently ranked at world No. 109 according to recent ATP listings, Basavareddy is coached by Bryan Smith and his older brother Nishanth Basavareddy. His rapid rise through the professional ranks has established him as one of America’s most promising young talents.

The US Open wildcard represents another significant opportunity for Basavareddy to showcase his talents on home soil. With his combination of elite junior pedigree, collegiate success, and growing professional achievements, he embodies the next generation of American tennis talent looking to make their mark at the sport’s highest level.

As tennis fans prepare for the final Grand Slam of 2025, Basavareddy’s presence in the field adds another compelling storyline to follow—a young American with the tools and track record to potentially make a deep run in his home country’s premier tennis event.