AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 22, 2026

Dane Sweeny

Press Conference

B. SHELTON/D. Sweeny

6-3, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Dane, how do you reflect on that one today?

DANE SWEENY: Definitely felt a big wave of disappointment after today. I know he is a world-class player. He showed that today. I was happy with myself mentally. I really stayed focused. I stayed positive. I was trying to use the crowd when I can, but it's tough when you're not winning as many points.

But I was a little bit disappointed how I just lacked execution, especially when I was on top of points today. Gave him just early leads in the sets, and I just couldn't build any scoreboard pressure.

Yeah, I mean, I'm proud of the week. But, yeah, today was a bit disappointed with my level.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Any reason for that? Can you pinpoint why?

DANE SWEENY: He puts a lot of pressure. You know he's going to hold easily a lot and you're not getting into many service games. So that definitely builds pressure. Just underlying. You feel like Love-15s and 15-30s are a bigger opportunity for him. It just puts more pressure on you.

I think I let that make me hesitate a little bit when I had the shorter balls, or the balls to do something with in the rally. Sometimes I'd go for too much. I struggled to find that balance of going for too much.

But yeah, I probably just attribute that to his serve. He was very good off the ground today, as well. Yeah, built a lot of pressure, yeah.

Q. What do you take away? What's the overriding emotion?

DANE SWEENY: Overriding emotion? I think the most valuable thing I can take, or have taken from this AO, is just a sense of belonging. You achieve that through hard work and discipline. Especially last long while I've done that, I've always been an extremely hard worker. Mentally I've been applying myself.

But to actually get results and to beat some good players, not just here, but Brisbane International as well, and have a good last six months. But to set that in stone with a good week here, I feel a sense of belonging.

Getting good results, I feel like I'm not questioning as much what I'm doing. I feel like I'm on the right track and making steps towards becoming a top player.

I think that's more valuable than anything, the points, the prize money. Yeah, I think that's going to give me good motivation going forward and a very clear picture on how to move forward.

Q. The match against Monfils, how much did that take out of you emotionally do you think?

DANE SWEENY: Not too much. Obviously, it was physically draining and, yes, emotionally draining, but I think what I got from it was only positive.

I felt really happy with my performance. I was really stoked with how I dealt with the crowd, and just being on the big stage. As much as it took out of me, I think it put a pep in my step.

I had confidence against playing Ben. Thought I could make it a good fight. Again, that's why I was probably a little bit disappointed today with my performance.

Yeah, of course, it was a bit draining, but I think winning matches, you definitely get a lot of dopamine from it. Probably canceled out. If not, I got a pep in my step.

Q. Talking about the Monfils match, when you signed the camera lens after the match, I think you signed, This too shall pass. What did you mean by that?

DANE SWEENY: It's kind of a mantra that I keep in the back of my mind. In moments that are really tough, or in moments that are very exhilarating or, I guess, really happy moments, fulfilling moments, like this week, for instance, the phrase just helps me stay grounded. The only real constant in life is change. I know these feelings will dissipate. But also in tough times those feelings will dissipate.

Just a way of allowing me not to get too attached with how I'm feeling in the current moment or to the situation at hand because it's inevitably going to change. That's just the nature of life.

Q. The emotional roller coaster of tennis, highs and lows, as Maddison mentioned just a moment ago...

DANE SWEENY: She's had an unbelievable effort this run. Hopefully she can keep it going.

You learn as a tennis player, if you can't wrap your head around that, or learn to lose well and win well, then it's going to be tough to deal with life on the tour.