Basavareddy Edges Prizmic in Next Gen Thriller
In Jeddah’s charged atmosphere, Nishesh Basavareddy battled nerves and a resilient opponent to secure his first win at the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals, a victory that reignites his season’s fire.
Under the bright lights of King Abdullah Sports City, American Nishesh Basavareddy stepped into the 2025 Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF with a mix of anticipation and quiet pressure. The 20-year-old, seeded sixth and ranked No. 167, faced Dino Prizmic in a round-robin opener that tested his adaptation to the event’s rapid-fire format—short sets on a fast indoor hard court where momentum shifts hit like sudden gusts. What followed was a gritty four-set escape, 4-2, 4-3(7), 3-4(3), 4-2, marking Basavareddy’s first tour-level win since Hangzhou in mid-September and snapping a streak of close calls.
This triumph, his eighth of the season, arrived with new coach Gilles Cervara in the player’s box, signaling a fresh chapter amid the tournament’s intensity. The American leaned on heavy topspin forehands to control rallies, stretching Prizmic across the baseline with crosscourt exchanges that built points methodically. Yet the match’s drama unfolded in the psychological duels, where Basavareddy’s composure under duress turned potential defeat into a hard-fought edge.
“I feel great,” Basavareddy said. “Getting the first win in a round-robin is huge and trying to win in as few sets as possible is good, so I am pleased to get it done in four. I think having the experience is good to have in the bag, but it has been a year since we played this format, so there is still so adjustments to do. Each set is quick, one break like that last set. One break changes momentum completely.”
Saving set points under fire
The second set ramped up the tension as Prizmic, the Croatian wildcard, unleashed flat backhands down-the-line to pressure Basavareddy’s second serve. Serving to force a tiebreak, the American faced three set points, each one amplifying the crowd’s low hum into urgent whispers around the arena. He clawed back with inside-out forehands that clipped the lines and volleys that nipped any Croatian surge, stealing the set 4-3(7) and injecting vital belief into his game.
This resilience echoed the mental work Basavareddy had poured into recent sessions, transforming a season of near-misses into on-court steel. The Jeddah humidity clung to the air, mirroring the stickiness of those moments, but his saves kept the match’s tempo in his favor, setting up a push toward victory. Prizmic’s aggression faltered slightly after, allowing Basavareddy to dictate more with serves that skidded low on the surface.
Stumbling then surging back
Momentum teetered in the third when Basavareddy, serving for the match at 3-2, felt the weight of expectation in a double-fault that gifted Prizmic his lone break. The Croat pounced with sharp returns targeting the body, forcing errors in a tiebreak that Basavareddy lost 3-4(3), the set’s brevity exposing every lapse. Frustration flickered across the American’s face, a nod to the year’s inconsistent results, but he reset swiftly for the decider.
Opening the fourth with an immediate break, Basavareddy deployed a one–two pattern—serve followed by a heavy forehand winner—that disrupted Prizmic’s rhythm. He mixed in slice backhands to pull his opponent forward, then unleashed inside-in shots to finish points decisively, pulling away 4-2 as the crowd’s cheers swelled. This surge not only sealed the win but highlighted tactical growth, turning a stumble into a statement of endurance.
Forging ahead with fresh guidance
Grouped with Prizmic, second seed Belgian Alexander Blockx, and 18-year-old German Justin Engel, Basavareddy now turns to Day 1’s remaining matches at King Abdullah Sports City, where the round-robin’s math demands unflinching focus. The format’s speed favors his topspin baseline game, but upcoming clashes against Blockx’s versatility and Engel’s power will test serve consistency further. Cervara‘s presence, drawing from his track record with top players, brings a structured edge to Basavareddy’s preparations.
Their partnership stresses physical conditioning and serve refinements, addressing spots where pressure had previously unraveled points. “We have done a lot of work physically, and I have started working with a new physical coach, whom Gilles has known for quite a while,” Basavareddy noted. “I have also put in a lot of work on my serve. It is confidence-boosting knowing he has been through the cycle of taking a young gun to World No. 1 and a Grand Slam with Daniil. But every player is different.” As the Next Gen field ignites, this opener positions Basavareddy to channel the event’s chaos into deeper momentum, one precise stroke at a time.