Mumbai: Nishesh Basavareddy recalls the wave of notifications he received on his phone right after his match against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last month. It was his first main draw match at a Grand Slam, and while expectations were low, he surprisingly took the first set from the 24-time Major champion.

Although he ultimately lost in four sets, Basavareddy, an American with Indian roots, gained a bigger following.

“I received tons of messages from Indians, including some actors and athletes,” he shared with HT. “It really shows that people are supporting me from there, and I love having an entire country behind me.”

Growing up in the US, Basavareddy's performance caught the attention of fans in India, and he’s also being recognized in the global tennis scene as a young talent to keep an eye on. Just months into his professional career, he’s on the verge of breaking into the top 100.

He’s had a solid start to the season. Just a week before the Australian Open, he made it to the semi-finals after coming through the qualifiers at the ATP 250 event in Auckland. Facing Djokovic, a player whose picture he once had as his phone's wallpaper, Basavareddy, currently ranked No. 106 in the world, took away valuable lessons.

“I gained a lot of confidence that I’m on the right track with my game. (Djokovic) pointed out areas I need to work on, like my serve return and managing a best-of-five set match,” he noted.

In the stands during that match in Melbourne was Rajeev Ram, a four-time men’s doubles Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, who was there supporting Basavareddy. Ram, 40, has been a mentor to him for many years.

Ram and Basavareddy are both first-generation Americans with Indian roots. They have more in common than just their heritage; they both live in Carmel, Indiana, and train under the same coach, Bryan Smith.

Basavareddy picked up tennis at just five years old after being inspired by his older brother and dad playing at a local park. He jumped in, and as he quickly improved, the family decided it was time for some formal coaching.

“I remember when his brother and he came to take lessons with my coach (Smith),” Ram shared in a chat with us. “After a few sessions, my coach told me, ‘Hey, I think this kid is something special.’”

In those early days, Ram helped Basavareddy during clinics at the academy. Basavareddy was eager to enhance his tennis skills, but he faced significant challenges with knee injuries early on.

“I had three surgeries on my right knee at ages 11, 14, and 16,” Basavareddy explained. “The first one was unexpected. I was at a junior tournament when my kneecap dislocated, and a piece of cartilage tore off. Then I had two more meniscus injuries. Those were really tough times.”

In total, Basavareddy spent almost three years recovering from those surgeries. Despite the setbacks, he kept pushing forward in any way he could to pursue his tennis dreams.

There were a lot of ups and downs due to the injuries, but it was during the Covid-19 pandemic that Basavareddy and Ram started spending more time together. They connected over not just the sport, but also the evolving aspirations of the Indian community in the US.

Ram says, "Indians living in the US had those passions (to pursue sports), but maybe they didn't have the courage to follow them. I feel I was maybe one of the first that carved out a career that was a little different. I wasn't a doctor. I wasn't an academic. And I think you're starting to see this generation of players and kids do that a bit more."

Ram noticed two standout traits in Basavareddy: his quick learning and his fearless attitude towards challenges.

“He wasn’t fazed by someone more experienced,” Ram said. “Sure, I was way ahead of him skill-wise at that time, but he didn’t shy away from the competition.”

That boldness was evident in January when he managed to take the first set from Djokovic on a court where the Serbian has dominated. It was Basavareddy's first time in the main draw of a Grand Slam, and he held his own quite well.

He’s part of the new wave of young American tennis players making a name for themselves. Plus, with his roots in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, Basavareddy feels like he’s got the support of two countries behind him.

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!