Nishesh Basavareddy has made headlines recently by announcing the hiring of Gilles Cervara as his new coach, following a wave of speculation. The 20-year-old American, currently ranked 167th in the ATP, previously achieved a career-high ranking of 99 this summer and has a promising trajectory ahead.
Cervara comes with an impressive resume, having guided Daniil Medvedev throughout a remarkable eight-year partnership. Under his guidance, Medvedev ascended to the pinnacle of the ATP rankings and captured the U.S. Open title in 2021, along with five other Grand Slam final appearances. However, their collaboration ended following a disappointing first-round exit at the 2025 U.S. Open, culminating in a shock defeat by Benjamin Bonzi in a gripping five-set match. During the recent season, Medvedev’s performance had declined, winning only one Grand Slam match.
Basavareddy, who showcased his potential during his college tennis tenure at Stanford, is set to strengthen his game under Cervara’s mentorship. In 2025, the young player has registered seven tour-level match victories, highlighted by a semifinal appearance in Auckland. He also made a commendable effort at the Australian Open, where he managed to claim a set from none other than Novak Djokovic in the first round, signaling his growing competitiveness.
As he prepares for the NextGen ATP Finals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, later this month, fans and analysts alike will be keen to observe how the combination of Basavareddy’s raw talent and Cervara’s seasoned expertise will unfold on the ATP circuit.
Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev has transitioned into a new phase of his career under the guidance of Thomas Johansson. After a challenging season, Medvedev closed out the year with a much-needed title in Almaty, complemented by strong semifinal runs in both Beijing and Shanghai, along with a quarterfinal finish in Paris. This change may mark a pivotal moment for both players as they aim to reclaim their positions among the elite in men’s tennis.
