Basavareddy Notches Maiden Grand Slam Match Win in 5-Set Marathon at Melbourne
20-year-old qualifier Basavareddy outlasts Australian wildcard O’Connell in five-set battle at Australian Open 2026 Round 1
Nishesh Basavareddy secured his first Grand Slam match victory at the Australian Open ’26. The 20-year-old Indian-origin American, ranked 242 in the world, defeated Australian wildcard Christopher O’Connell 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3 in a first-round battle that lasted over four hours.
After making his way through qualifying, Basavareddy showed the composure needed to get over the line, particularly when saving two set points in a tense second set tiebreak that proved crucial to the match outcome.
A Match of Momentum Swings
O’Connell, the former World No. 53, started strong. The Australian’s experience showed in the opening set as he took it 6-4, getting some support from the local crowd. But Basavareddy stayed in the fight.
The second set proved decisive — after falling behind a break, the young Indian-origin American worked his way back into contention. When O’Connell reached 6-4 in the tiebreak, two points from taking a commanding two-set lead, the match looked to be slipping away. But Basavareddy found a way to save both set points and took the breaker 9-7. The momentum had shifted.
The third set went the distance again, with O’Connell taking the tiebreak 7-3 to regain the lead. But Basavareddy had settled into the match now. What followed was his best tennis of the day. Basavareddy dominated the fourth set 6-2, his groundstrokes finding their targets and his serve clicking, with the finish line in sight.
In the decider, Nishesh closed it out 6-3, sealing the victory after a marathon 4 hours and 9 minutes.
The Challenge Ahead
This win is notable, considering Basavareddy’s path to the main draw. Ranked outside the top 200, he had to come through qualifying just to earn his spot in the first round. Now he’s into the second round of a Grand Slam with the confidence that comes from winning a five-set match.
But the challenge gets significantly tougher in Round 2. Waiting is World No. 18 Karen Khachanov, the powerful Russian who already holds a 1-0 head-to-head advantage after defeating Basavareddy in four sets at the 2025 US Open a few months ago.
Khachanov brings considerable experience at this level, along with a powerful serve and strong baseline game. It’s a steep challenge, but Basavareddy arrives with fresh proof that he can handle pressure and close out matches at the highest level.
