Aussie qualifier Sweeny stuns Monfils in emotional Melbourne marathon
24-year-old local qualifier Dane Sweeny secured the biggest win of his life on Tuesday night againt Gael Monfils (6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5). It was the Frenchman’s last appearance in Melbourne.
Gaël Monfils, 2026 | © Photosport / PsNewz
The roar that erupted from Kia Arena shortly before midnight was one of pure, unadulterated sporting joy. Dane Sweeny, the world No. 182 who fought through three rounds of qualifying just to be here, fell flat on his back and hurled his hat into the air after sealing a 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 victory. It was a career-defining moment for the young Australian, who displayed veteran-like composure to overturn a 1-4 deficit in the fourth set and deny the Frenchman a deciding fifth.
For Gaël Monfils, the night was defined by both competition and celebration. At 39 years old, Monfils made history on Tuesday as one of just six men in the Open Era to compete in 20 Australian Opens, joining an elite group that includes Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt.
Following the match, Tournament Director Craig Tiley presented the Frenchman with a commemorative gift on court, acknowledging his two decades of electrifying crowds at Melbourne Park. With Monfils having announced that 2026 will be his final season on tour, the standing ovation he received felt like a definitive “merci” from the Australian public.
While the night was a tribute to a legend, it was a breakthrough for a “battler.” Sweeny, who had never won a Grand Slam main draw match before today, played with a relentless intensity that eventually wore down the 39-year-old veteran.
Despite Monfils firing 18 aces and showcasing flashes of his trademark athleticism, Sweeny’s defensive grit proved decisive. The Aussie won 12 of the final 16 points of the match, breaking Monfils’ serve in the eleventh game of the fourth set before serving out the greatest win of his young career.
Sweeny now advances to the round of 64, where a massive challenge awaits in the form of the No. 8 seed Ben Shelton. The American, who reached the semifinals here in 2025, earlier dispatched Ugo Humbert in straight sets. For Sweeny, the chance to face a top-10 opponent in front of his home crowd is the ultimate reward for a journey that began in the grueling heat of the qualifying rounds.
