Nishesh Basavareddy Opens up About Hiring Daniil Medvedev’s Former Coach ahead of the Next Gen ATP Finals

Daniil Medvedev was associated with Gilles Cervara for eight years.

Nishesh Basavareddy Opens up About Hiring Daniil Medvedev’s Former Coach ahead of the Next Gen ATP Finals

Nishesh Basavareddy and Gilles Cervara (via Tennis365)

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Just when the dust settled on the 2025 Grand Slam calendar, the tennis fans got a crossover episode nobody really saw coming. Nishesh Basavareddy, the 20-year-old American prospect who gave Novak Djokovic a momentary scare earlier this year, has officially hired Gilles Cervara.

In a chat with the ATP website, Basavareddy didn’t hesitate to share his reasoning. He sees the value in that high-level mileage.

Obviously, he had a long and successful partnership with Daniil, who was a good player before they started working together, but they did a lot of great things together. I thought that experience at the highest level could help me where I’m at in my career. 

Cervara spent eight years trying to keep Daniil Medvedev focused while the Russian star maintained the peak of his powers between 2019 and 2022. During that time, the Russian won a handful of titles and became a force on tour.

Now, Basavareddy is bringing that veteran experience into his corner for the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah. It’s a bold move, and precisely the kind of chaos the fans love to see in the tennis world.

The ghost of the Daniil Medvedev split

The fans can’t talk about this new partnership without addressing the way in which the split with Daniil Medvedev happened. For eight years, the Russian and Cervara were the odd couple of tennis. 

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (Image via X/Daniil Medvedev)

But things went south fast at the 2025 US Open. Medvedev didn’t just lose in the first round; he had a full-blown meltdown, complete with racket smashes and arguments with the chair umpire.

After that disaster, the writing was on the wall. Cervara later admitted that Medvedev initiated the split, stating that the “energy state” was simply incorrect. It was what triggered the split between the duo. Hence, for Basavareddy, this is a huge opportunity. He catches Cervara on the rebound, eager to prove he can mold another champion—preferably one with slightly fewer on-court tantrums.

Can Nishesh Basavareddy Live Up to the Hype?

This isn’t the first time Basavareddy has made headlines this year. It all began at the Australian Open, where the youngster walked onto the court for his Grand Slam debut and actually took a set off Novak Djokovic.

Nishesh Basavareddy
Nishesh Basavareddy (via ATP Tour)

Even the Serb was impressed, admitting he was “pleasantly surprised” by Basavareddy’s game and fighting spirit. When a tennis legend like Novak gives someone a nod of approval, it’s likely to be a notable player.

Now, paired with a coach who knows how to navigate the absolute peak of the sport, the expectations for Basavareddy in Jeddah have just skyrocketed. The Next Gen ATP Finals is where we typically identify the next big thing. With Cervara in his box, Basavareddy is signaling that he’s ready to skip the “up-and-coming” phase and go straight to “threat.”

Also Read: Former ATP Pro Reveals Who He Thinks Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner Will Finish with More Grand Slam Titles