Basavareddy-Cervara, the new connection that threatens the circuit: "I'm happy because Gilles trusts in my potential"

Carlos Navarro | 19 Dec 2025 | 12.29

This is Cervara's new project: Nishesh Basavareddy.

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The ATP Next Gen Finals 2026 are allowing us to witness the early stages of a highly promising partnership. It was an absolute mystery as to where Gilles Cervara, the architect behind the best Daniil Medvedev, would go after his split with the Russian... and the direction his path took surprised many: he decided to try with Nishesh Basavareddy, an atypical player with immense potential and certain similarities to the style of the Muscovite.

Players who don't rely on power but rather on intuition, feeling, and precision: countercultural styles in an increasingly power-dominated world. Nevertheless, there is much to work on in the game of the American, who struggled greatly in his first full year as a professional and, after a magnificent Australian tour to begin 2025, ended up deflating out of the top 150. More than proven reasons to shake things up: few better options to do so than that of Gilles Cervara himself.

"My team got in touch with him right after his split from Daniil. We thought it would be a great partnership, given his experience and mindset. I'm very happy that it has come to fruition," Basavareddy confesses to the ATP from Jeddah, where he is cohabiting for the first time with Gilles at a tournament. The aspects needing improvement in Nishesh's game are several and focus on the foundations of his tennis, a much-needed evolution at a physical level, and an increase in speed and precision in his serve.

"The game is a key aspect. The physical side is another area where I must continue improving. We're trying to build a great team around me just for that aspect. I've also spent countless hours improving my service," confesses the American, one of the great revelations of the latter part of 2024. With Cervara now on his team, he aims, in particular, to surprise again a circuit that began to figure him out this season.

Can Basavareddy be compared to Medvedev? He responds himself

We were discussing how the American and the Russian are indeed two quite atypical profiles on tour, perhaps a strong reason for Cervara to give the green light to this new project. Does Nishesh share this view?: "It's hard to say, we are two completely different players. Yet, I'm happy that he believes in me. I, certainly, believe in myself. Hopefully, we can show that we'll go far," asserts Gilles' new protégé firmly.

The goal, finally, is to leave behind a year of many defeats, tough moments, new experiences on the circuit... and, above all, of learning. "During my first year on the circuit, I've learned a lot. There are things I could have done very differently, for sure. It's fantastic to be with someone who knows the path to the top perfectly, from the bottom up. I think that will help me tremendously." A new connection that already chalks up its first victory in Saudi lands, aiming to build chemistry and confidence this December and already threatening to surprise the tennis world. Will they meet expectations? Only time will tell.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Basavareddy-Cervara, la nueva conexión que amenaza al circuito: "Estoy feliz porque Gilles confía en mi potencial"