Who are Nishesh Basavareddy's parents? All about Novak Djokovic's Australian Open 1R opponent's Indian heritage

Nishesh Basavareddy has commenced his highly anticipated Grand Slam debut against Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open. The teenager has earned a main-draw wildcard entry into the tournament.

Basavareddy is an Indian-origin American who has created a massive buzz on the tennis circuit in recent months. Just last week, the 19-year-old reached his maiden tour-level semifinal at the ASB Classic in Auckland. At this stage, he was beaten by eventual champion Gael Monfils in straight sets.

Nishesh Basavareddy was born in 2005 to Indian parents, mother, Sai Prasanna, and father, Muralikrishna, in Newport Beach, California. According to the tennis player, his parents hail from Nellore, a city located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

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They moved to the United States in 1999, living in San Francisco for a few years before shifting to Southern California. The family then moved to Indiana, owing to Basavareddy’s father’s work commitments.

The American has an older brother called Nishanth who also plays tennis. In an interview with Indian Tennis Daily, Basavareddy revealed that the siblings were introduced to tennis by their father, a tennis enthusiast.

"We started playing in California. 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. 10 and under. We also played soccer and some other sports. Once we moved to Indiana, we’ve been playing only tennis," Basavareddy said.

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Nishesh Basavareddy regularly visited India as a youngster

Nishesh Basavareddy pictured against Novak Djokovic at the 2025 Australian Open - Image Source: Getty

Although Nishesh Basavareddy’s parents shifted to the United States, the tennis player’s family, including his grandparents, still resides in India. During the aforementioned interview, Basavareddy revealed that he traveled to the country with his family regularly.

"When I was younger, we used to go every year," he said. "We tend to go once every 3 years maybe to visit my grandparents and other family members."

Basavareddy’s itinerary mainly includes visiting his family’s hometowns in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

"We normally visit Hyderabad, Nellore and Puttaparthi regions when I am there," he said.

As a junior player, Nishesh Basavareddy won the 2022 US Open boys doubles alongside compatriot Ozan Baris. Between 2023 and 2024, he featured in seven challenger finals, winning two titles in Tiburon and Puerto Vallarta.

In December 2024, the American turned pro and competed in the renowned Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah.