Nishesh Basavareddy, from data science to shining on the ATP circuit

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Nishesh Basavareddy is no ordinary guy. He doesn't play like most young players on the circuit, relying on power as their main ally. His path to the elite has also been unconventional, as he has barely set foot in Futures or junior Grand Slam finals. We are talking about a guy who had everything to become a renowned data analyst, just two years away from finishing his degree in Data Science at Stanford... until, of course, tennis came knocking on his door. And that analytical mind that could have served big companies started wreaking havoc on the court.

At 19 years old, Nishesh is enjoying the ATP Auckland 2025 where he achieved the best result of his ATP career. He defeated the defending champion, Alejandro Tabilo, to reach the quarterfinals, displaying his full range of skills: outstanding speed and intuition in returning, capable of intimidating the world's best server; extraordinary versatility to change spins and directions from the baseline, adapting to what troubles his opponent the most; and a winning mentality that shines in crucial moments of the match.

He is a countercultural player, who has stated on several occasions that he plays based on what harms his opponent the most. That Swiss Army knife his tennis becomes was close to staying at university: Stanford, once the decision to turn pro was made, does not allow him to take online classes to complete his degree. Nevertheless, this did not deter Basavareddy from choosing tennis, especially after shining on the Challenger circuit last year, where he clinched two titles, won over 40 matches, and earned a well-deserved wildcard for the upcoming Open Australia 2025.

A THOUGHTFUL DECISION, YET WITHOUT HESITATION

"I thought about it a lot, but I knew that participating in Jeddah (at the Next Gen Finals) and having a wildcard for the Australian Open would make it very easy to make that decision. Knowing that I was close to the top 100 and would be able to play in the big tournaments pushed me to turn professional, although leaving my Stanford team behind hasn't been easy", confesses Nishesh to ATP, whose maturity is evident in seeking advice from various people before making such a decision.

"I talked to my agent, the coaches at Stanford, to Rajeev Ram, who helped me understand what you need to prepare for when you turn pro", states the American, who also attributes his end-of-season results as the final push to leave university behind: "Achieving such good results at the Challenger level after the US Open made me see that I can replicate that level consistently, week after week. I saw that my game had a constant evolution throughout the year."

The invitations received by Nishesh and his great performances on the Challenger circuit allowed him to "skip" the Futures step, but what characterizes the Indiana native is his grounded attitude. His maturity is reflected in his future plans: he can look beyond his tennis career and is certain that he will return to Stanford someday to conclude his data analysis career.

"While I'm on the circuit, I won't be able to study because Stanford doesn't allow online classes. However, once I finish my career, I will definitely go back and complete my degree, I have about 15 months left. Becoming a pro is a big step forward, but knowing that I always have the safety net of the university helps. That's one of the reasons I went to Stanford, actually: I always have that there, whether it's for after my career or if I want to pursue something beyond tennis. Right now, my feeling on the circuit is one of excitement, not anxiety". He has certainly arrived on the circuit ready for anything, like a veteran at just 19 years old who wants to continue making his mark. Tonight, against Alex Michelsen, one final step before what seems to be an approach to the top 100 that will be a matter of time.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Nishesh Basavareddy, de la ciencia de datos a brillar en el circuito ATP