Tennis
10 hours ago
World No. 680 to giant-killer and $225k payday
By Emily Benammar
Just 10 months ago, Australia’s Dane Sweeny was ranked 680th in the world.
Today, at No. 182 he is set for a big climb in the rankings, has secured one of the biggest wins of his career and is set to collect a minimum of $225,000.
It’s an incredible story.
Sweeny defied the odds to end Frenchman Gael Monfils’ Australian Open career on Tuesday in a four-set, four-hour epic clash on Kia Arena.
Adding to the achievement is the fact the Aussie came through three rounds of qualifying last week to secure a main draw berth,
Monfils, the former world No. 6 is on his farewell season and few would have backed Sweeny to be the man to end his campaign so early on. But this is real life, it’s not a dream and the Aussie admits he’s had to pinch himself several times since the moment he won.
“I’m feeling a bit sore this morning but am ecstatic to still be in the tournament,” he told SEN the morning after the night before. “I knew it wasn’t a dream because the bruise on my hip was keeping me up at night, I had a little tumble.
“But this is surreal, it’s been a dream since I was a little tacker. To be gearing up for a second round against Ben Shelton is a cool experience. It was a whirlwind.
“I didn’t actually sleep that well. Gael is such a legend of the game, he is a human highlight reel. It was an honour to share a court with him and to come out as a winner is unbelievable.”
Sweeny’s rise has not come without significant sacrifice, and the 24-year-old is more aware than most of what others have done for him.
His father Clay, who now travels with him as his coach and confidante, sold his cleaning business to help fund his son’s tennis dream.
Nothing has come easy for the rising star who hails from Penrith NSW but he insists the win over Monfils will not change much – only his sense of belonging.
“My ranking was around 700 about 10 months ago,” he said. “I have always thought I was capable of doing great things.
“Sometimes that voice has been quieter especially through the tough times. But I have the ability and the work ethic. I knew it was possible but to actually have it happen is a pinch me moment.
“Life won’t change too much, the best thing I can gain from this is a sense of belonging. Nothing will change. I will still be working hard but the financial burden won’t be as bad. But the sense of belonging is the main thing.”
For someone so young, Sweeny speaks with enormous maturity.
Acknowledging that remaining calm, centred and grounded on the court is producing his best tennis, Sweeny doesn’t follow the blueprint of the current crop of tennis stars with whom brute force is seemingly their main weapon.
For him it’s just as much of a mental game.
“In tennis you have to have belief, you have to overcome fear and anger,” he said.
“This sport allows me to free myself from my mind. I am not playing to get things but to control my mind and not let it be my master but my servant.
“It’s an intrinsic internal journey. This has allowed me to control what I can and devote myself to the game. That’s why I playing better tennis.
“(Against Monfils) I had to stay centred and grounded at the start it was such an intense atmosphere.
“The Aussie and French fans were almost having their own match on the side. I did well to stay in the moment. I was so incredibly grateful to be in that moment.
“I felt tingles in my body and a surge of energy in my body (when the crowd got behind him). It keeps me engrossed and not worrying about what could happen – I just want to do the crowd proud. It sends chills down my spine.”
Leveraging the power of the crowd will b crucial in his round two clash with Shelton which, by all accounts, looks set to be on one of the main showcourts.
“It would be pretty cool playing against Shelton, even if not on Rod Laver if will be a big court.
I can’t play with fear, it will force my best tennis. All I can do is my best. Manage the situation and see the match clearly. Not get overwhelmed and think I have to play too good. I just need to know I have the ability.”
So can he win?
“Yeah why not, stranger things have happened.”
