Former Stanford star Basavareddy continues tennis education in Jeddah

Less than two weeks after turning pro, Nishesh Basavareddy is set to compete at one of the sport's marquee events. The 19-year-old American enters the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF ready to kickstart the next chapter of his tennis career.

"It's a great feeling," the former Stanford star said on Monday, ahead of his Jeddah debut. "This is probably one of the best tournaments of the year outside of the main [Nitto] ATP Finals. All the treatment and the setup here at the Finals with the hotel, the courts, it's been great. I'm really excited to be a part of this tournament with these guys here."

Competing in Jeddah was a goal for Basavareddy this season, one he accomplished despite competing for Stanford through May. After two All-American years with the Cardinal, Basavareddy has risen to a career-high of No. 138 in the PIF ATP Rankings behind his success this season on the ATP Challenger Tour, where he won two titles and reached four additional finals. Though it was difficult to leave his teammates behind, the American has proven he belongs at the next level.

"I loved the team aspect of that and those are some of my best friends that I'll have for the rest of my life," he explained. "But I was ready to move and start playing professional tennis, which has always been my dream. It was tough to let it go, but I'm excited for the future."

Basavareddy enters Jeddah in fine form after winning his second ATP Challenger Tour trophy of the season in his most recent tournament. He can also take confidence and comfort from some familiar faces in Saudi Arabia: fellow Americans Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen. Basavareddy will open his Jeddah campaign Wednesday against Michelsen. If both Basavareddy and Tien advance to the knockout rounds and square off, their first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting will be the latest installment of a friendly rivalry that began when they competed as six-year-olds at the famous "Little Mo" tournament.

Another more senior American has also seen Basavareddy rise through the junior ranks. Former doubles World No. 1 Rajeev Ram has been a guiding influence on his younger countryman for more than a decade.

"He's meant a lot. I've known him since I was eight but our relationship has grown a lot these last couple of years as I've made the jump from junior to college to pro tennis," Basavareddy said of Ram. "He's given me a lot of insight into what to expect and what I should be doing out on the pro tour week in and week out."

As he seeks to emulate Ram's lengthy career on the ATP Tour, Basavareddy is eager for a quick start on Jeddah's fast hard courts in his first event as a pro.

"It seems like it's a great stepping stone to the top of the men's game," he said of the Jeddah showcase, fully aware of the star-studded list of past champions at the event — one that includes Stefanos Tsitsipas, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. "It would be cool to end the week with the title."

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