"I’m in disbelief," said Sweeny, who was ranked near 700 just a year ago.
Australian tennis player Dane Sweeny has secured a place in the 2025 Australian Open main draw. The 24-year-old defeated Italy's Stefano Travaglia in the final qualifying round on Thursday, marking his second appearance in the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament after qualifying for the 2024 Australian Open. Sweeny is scheduled to face French veteran Gaël Monfils in the first round.
Match Details
Sweeny defeated Stefano Travaglia, a former world No. 60, in straight sets: 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3). The match was played at ANZ Arena on Thursday, January 9, 2025. Sweeny recovered from a 4-1 deficit in the second set.
Player Background and Rankings
At the time of the qualifying match, Sweeny was ranked No. 182 in the world. He weighs 63 kg and stands 170 cm tall. Prior to this event, Sweeny's only previous Grand Slam main draw appearance was at the 2024 Australian Open, where he lost to Francisco Cerúndolo in the first round. In February of the previous year (2024), Sweeny's world ranking was 680.
Player Comments
Following the win, Sweeny stated that he was in disbelief and expressed gratitude for his current position, noting that he was ranked near 700 not long ago.
"My goal during the second set was to play with conviction in the big moments."
He described his tendency to dive for shots as an intuitive action stemming from his smaller stature and learning to "scrap" from a young age. Sweeny also indicated plans to celebrate with his family using the first-round prize money.
Upcoming Match and Other Australians
Sweeny is scheduled to face French player Gaël Monfils in the first round of the Australian Open main draw, which commences on Sunday, January 12, 2025.
Sweeny was one of four Australian players to advance through the qualifying rounds to the main draw. The other three are Jason Kubler, Madison Inglis, and Storm Hunter.