Gilles Cervara to coach up-and-comer Basavareddy
The pair began their first sessions at the Mouratoglou Academy today, Cervara confirmed to Tennis Majors
Gilles Cervara has found his next challenge. The French coach, who guided Daniil Medvedev to world No 1 and a US Open title during their seven-year partnership, has begun working with American prospect Nishesh Basavareddy.
Basavareddy’s team reached out to Cervara following the Frenchman’s split with Medvedev, and the 20-year-old’s potential appealed to the experienced French coach. Cervara confirmed to Tennis Majors that he saw it as exactly the kind of project he enjoys – building a complete performance system around a talented young player.
The pair aren’t complete strangers. Cervara first encountered Basavareddy during training sessions with Medvedev at the 2023 ATP Finals in Turin, where the American served as a hitting partner.
Basavareddy’s breakout season
Basavareddy burst onto the scene at the start of 2025. The Stanford product reached the semi-finals in Auckland before making his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open, where he took a set off Novak Djokovic in the first round. He has since climbed to a career-high ranking of No 99 and qualified for the NextGen ATP Finals.
“We want to build around his strengths and bring more stability to a game that isn’t yet settled,” Cervara said to Tennis Majors.
The duo began their first sessions today at the Mouratoglou Academy, a fitting launchpad for a partnership with serious ambitions. The south of France facility has become a hub for elite player development, and Cervara will use it as a base alongside training blocks in Florida and Dubai throughout the year.
The Californian, whose parents emigrated from India, turned professional in December 2024 after two successful years of college tennis. He won two ATP Challenger titles last season and now has one of the sport’s most respected coaches in his corner.
