Novak Djokovic celebrates. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong Novak Djokovic celebrates. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong

Novak Djokovic will take on 19-year-old Nishesh Basavareddy from the United States of America in the first round of the Australian Open 2025 at Melbourne Park, Melbourne on Sunday (January 12, 2025). Watch the Djokovic vs Basavareddy tennis match live. (More Tennis News)

The match marks the start of a quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, 11th 'AO' crown, and 100th career singles title for the living legend. Now with his longtime rival Andy Murray as his coach, Djokovic is in pursuit of further glory. He enters the match as the seventh seed for the tournament.

This is the second straight year that the Serbian great will be facing a teenager in his Australian Open opener. Djokovic, 37, survived a four-setter in his 19th appearance at the season-opening Grand Slam in 2024 with 18-year-old Croatian Dino Prizmic taking the second-set tri-breaker. Nole eventually won the match 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4.

And the 10-time champion is determined to give his best to get a win against the Major debutant. "I'm sure that he is going to be really pumped to make a statement," Djokovic said of Basavareddy. "I have to approach that match very seriously, like any other, and do my best to get a win. Also in the process, enjoy the nice moment of sharing the court with him."

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So who is Nishesh Basavareddy?

Nishesh Basavareddy is an American of Indian origin. The teenager who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in December received a wildcard in the main draw of the 2025 Australian Open. The Newport Beach resident only turned pro in December last year and within weeks, he is ready to make a splash in his Grand Slam debut.

Currently 133rd in the ATP singles rankings, Basavareddy had previously appeared in the US Open 2025 qualifiers. And his first big break came at the Auckland ASB Classic earlier this week where he reached the semi-finals. The quarter-final win over countryman Alex Michelsen made him the youngest American to reach an ATP tour-level last four on hard courts since Reilly Opelka (18) in 2016.

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Basavareddy, who spent two years at Stanford University, won two ATP Challenger titles and reached four additional finals to tally a 41-13 win-loss record i the level. He is just the third American in Challenger history (since 1978) to record more than 40 wins in a single season.

Novak Djokovic Vs Nishesh Basavareddy, Australian Open 2025 Match Facts

Match: Novak Djokovic Vs Nishesh Basavareddy, Men’s Singles First Round

When: Sunday, January 12

How to watch: In India, Australian Open 2025 will be streamed on SonyLIV app and website. On tvwinzir, the tournament will be televised on the Sony Sports Network. Eurosport will show the tournament across Europe. ESPN and Tennis Channel will show the tournament in the United States.