Nishesh Basavareddy welcomes Gilles Cervara to his team as he readies for the Jeddah start of the Next Gen ATP Finals, with the event just days away. The Californian, who hails from Newport Beach, California, is among the 20-and-under stars set to compete at King Abdullah Sports City, where the eight-player field will duel in Jeddah this week.
Basavareddy is returning to the Next Gen Finals for a second consecutive year, and this time he brings in Cervara, the renowned French coach who previously guided Daniil Medvedev for an extended period. Basavareddy explained to ATPTour.com that he sought Cervara’s experience at the sport’s highest level, believing it would accelerate his development at this stage of his career. He added that Cervara’s input goes beyond tennis, encompassing nutrition and fitness, and that his meticulous, professional approach should benefit his overall preparation.
In related practice sessions, several fellow hopefuls showcased their abilities. Croatian rising star Dino Prizmic, who earned two ATP Challenger titles this year, worked alongside Rafael Jodar of Spain, a 19-year-old who qualified for Jeddah after capturing three Challengers in the season’s final three months. Both Prizmic and Jodar are debuting at the tournament.
Belgium’s towering 6’4” prospect Alexander Blockx demonstrated his power during a session with Norwegian challenger specialist Nicolai Budkov Kjaer, who has claimed four Challenger titles this season.
Germany’s 18-year-old Justin Engel also trained with his compatriot, former Top 100 player Michael Kohlmann.
The complete draw and Day 1 schedule are expected to be released later on Sunday.
Across three days of round-robin group play from Wednesday to Friday, the event will determine which players advance to the semi-finals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.
Past champions of the Next Gen ATP Finals include N internes such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, underscoring the event’s role as a showcase for future stars.
Learn more about the field and players at the official Next Gen ATP Finals page.
