Australian Open: Nellore’s Basavareddy Battles Djokovic in a Tough Contest

Australian Open: Nellore’s Basavareddy Battles Djokovic in a Tough Contest

Nisheesh Basavareddy, an American teenager of Telugu origin, caught the attention of tennis enthusiasts at this year’s Australian Open. His family hails from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh before settling in the United States. Inspired by tennis legend Novak Djokovic, Nisheesh chose to pursue a career in the sport, making today’s encounter with his idol a special moment in his career.

In the first-round match of the men’s singles at the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic faced Nisheesh Basavareddy. Despite having limited experience in Grand Slam tournaments, Basavareddy delivered an impressive performance against the former world number one. He made a remarkable start by clinching the first set 6-4, signaling his arrival on the big stage.

Breaking Djokovic’s serve is no small feat, but 19-year-old Basavareddy managed to do so with confidence and skill in the opening set, earning admiration from spectators. However, an unfortunate injury during the second set affected his game. Djokovic, using his vast experience, took control of the match, winning the next three sets consecutively.

The match, which lasted nearly three hours, ended with Djokovic emerging victorious, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. With this win, Djokovic advanced to the second round of the tournament.

After the match, Djokovic heaped praise on Basavareddy, lauding his fighting spirit and competitive attitude. "He surprised me with his performance, especially for someone playing their first Grand Slam match. I wish him the best in his career," Djokovic stated.


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