“I knew I was playing at a high level."
Nishesh Basavareddy caused a huge upset on the opening day of the French Open, defeating American seventh seed Taylor Fritz.
The second Grand Slam of the tennis season saw the world No. 148 produce a composed and fearless performance to win 7-6(5), 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 6-1.
Fritz arrived in Paris short of match sharpness after returning last week in Geneva following a two-month layoff with a chronic knee issue.
He struggled to find rhythm early, as Basavareddy dictated rallies with variation, particularly through drop shots and changes of pace.
The opening two sets were tight but Basavareddy ultimately won them. He lost the third set before dominating the fourth set.
He said: “I’m super happy to get through that after losing that third set… thank you all.
“All the players play their best in these tournaments and for me to do that today means the world.
“I knew I was playing at a high level. If I kept going, I’d have more chances, and I was able to come out strong in the beginning of the fourth set. That was the best set I think I’ve ever played.”
Next, he faces a second-round meeting with either Alexander Shevchenko or Alex Michelsen, with momentum firmly on his side after a breakthrough performance in Paris.
Born in Newport Beach, California in 2005, Basavareddy is the son of Sai Prasanna and Muralikrishna Basavareddy, originally from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh.
The family moved to the United States in 1999 before settling in Indiana.
Nishesh Basavareddy grew up alongside his elder brother Nishanth in a tennis-focused household. His father introduced both sons to the sport early, helping shape his development.
Basavareddy trained under Bryan Smith and received mentorship from former doubles world No. 1 Rajeev Ram, who remains a key influence on his career.
He rose to No. 3 in the junior rankings and won the boys’ doubles title at the 2022 US Open alongside Ozan Baris. However, his progress was interrupted by knee surgeries in 2016 and 2018.
Despite setbacks, he rebuilt his career through the US college system, spending two years at Stanford University while competing in collegiate tennis. He later transitioned fully to the professional circuit.
The 2024 season marked a sharp breakthrough, with Challenger titles in Puerto Vallarta and Tiburon, alongside multiple final appearances.
Basavareddy climbed rapidly through the rankings, breaking into the top 200 in September 2024.
By November 2024, he had entered the top 150 following strong results across the Challenger circuit. He also qualified for the ATP Finals Next Gen in Jeddah, where he recorded his first ATP-level win.
He later announced his decision to turn professional, ending NCAA eligibility after competing at Stanford University. His ranking rose from No. 457 to No. 138 in 2024.
He made his Grand Slam debut at the 2025 Australian Open, where he pushed Novak Djokovic in a four-set first-round match after winning the opening set.
Later that season, he featured in the main draws at ATP events in Acapulco and Indian Wells, steadily improving his consistency on tour. He broke into the ATP top 100 in June 2025 ahead of Wimbledon.
Nishesh Basavareddy also competed at the US Open later in 2025, continuing his transition into the sport’s top tier.
In 2026, he earned a French Open wildcard after winning the USTA Roland Garros Wild Card Challenge. His victory over Fritz is now expected to accelerate his rise further on the ATP Tour.
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