Young Aussie qualifier announces himself
Australian hopeful Dane Sweeny arrived in the main draw the hard way, battling through three qualifying matches to earn his place in the first round in Melbourne. Facing 39‑year‑old crowd favourite Gaël Monfils, he walked onto court as the underdog against a vastly more experienced opponent.
From the brink in the second set
Monfils edged a tight opening set in a tiebreak, with neither player surrendering serve and the Frenchman holding his nerve in the key points. Early in the second set he broke Sweeny and raced ahead 5–3, putting the Australian qualifier on the ropes as the crowd sensed a two‑sets‑to‑love lead coming.
Sweeny flips the momentum
Instead of folding, Sweeny mounted an incredible comeback, breaking Monfils twice in a row to reel off four straight games and steal the second set 7–5. The Kia Arena erupted as the momentum completely shifted, with the young Australian now firmly believing in the upset.
Closing out a career‑defining victory
The fourth set followed a similar script to the second: Monfils jumped out with another break, only for Sweeny to claw his way back with two breaks of his own and seal the match in four sets. The final scoreline reflected not only the 24‑year‑old’s physical endurance, but also a level of composure and resilience beyond his years.
What this win means for Sweeny
Defeating a former top‑player like Monfils in front of a home crowd marks a milestone moment in Sweeny’s young career. Coming through qualifying and then recovering from the edge of a two‑set deficit shows a mentality that will make him dangerous for any opponent in the draw.
By si.robi – Sweeny WMQ23, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=134832371
By Hameltion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=135537771
This match formed part of a demanding schedule during Australian Open Day 3.