AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2026

Dane Sweeny

Press Conference

D. SWEENY/G. Monfils

6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: If you can just tell us about how you felt in the match today.

DANE SWEENY: It was nearly overwhelming at the start, the atmosphere. It was incredible. It was deafening. Put a big smile on my face. From the get go, I just felt a lot of gratitude to be lucky enough to be in that position, win or lose.

I was just really excited to play in front of a crowd. I think I really relish playing in front of a big crowd. It's what I've worked so hard to be able to do.

So yes, there was nerves, but more it was just a lot of gratitude and a lot of excitement at the moment.

Q. Dane, can you describe the emotion of that final moment when you converted on match point?

DANE SWEENY: Disbelief. Euphoria (laughter). A lot of just I don't know what's going on. Almost felt like I was watching a show because it was pretty incredible moment. Still sinking in.

To not only win the first round of a Grand Slam, but to do it at the Australian Open, to do it in front of such an amazing atmosphere, to beat a legend of the game, Gael Monfils, it was a bit of a pinch-myself moment.

So yeah, quite an overwhelming feeling. I think that was pretty evident, I dropped to the floor.

Q. Were you almost surprised at how well you handled the occasion? You said there were nerves, but the crowd is something that you said you wanted to play in front of, so you were ready for it?

DANE SWEENY: No, I don't think I was surprised about how I handled the moment. I've made a lot of in-roads mentally and I've been playing a lot of good tennis. But, no, I don't think I was surprised.

I think the big moments like that they get the most out of me. I kind of really feel the energy of the crowd and the moment. I really try and take it by the horns and not shy away because, at the end of the day, if I don't do that then I'm not going to be a top tennis player.

But, I was grateful that I was playing well (laughter), yeah.

Q. You just said he's a legend of the game. Was that at all I guess intimidating to come up against someone like him, especially because even though the Australian fans were behind you, he also had so much support in the stadium?

DANE SWEENY: Yeah, I guess my mind was, in a way, it was saying It's okay to lose. You're playing Gael Monfils. You've already qualified.

So I guess I had to surrender that part of me that was okay with losing which, again, I want to accept everything as it comes, but I wanted to obviously just do the best I could, put on a really good performance and try and beat him.

So, yeah, I had to just surrender that part of me. But again, I was just very appreciative. It was awesome. When I saw his name up against mine in the draw, I was so happy, I was so excited, yeah.

Q. How does a Grand Slam week and preparing for round one differ to, say, a week in a challenger, and that sort of stuff? What does your box look like? Have you got more people there? Is it the same crew? What's all that like?

DANE SWEENY: It's the same preparation for me. There was a lot more nerves, a lot more mind noise, but the preparation is the same. I train the same. Maybe the recovery facilities are a bit better here. Maybe I actually do recover better because it's a Grand Slam and I should.

But playing in the big stage it's allowed me to bring my beautiful girlfriend, it's allowed me to not only have my dad as my coach travelling with me, coach, and one of my best friends Sam helping out. I have so much my family here. You probably heard my sister the whole time. I don't get that any other week of the year. That is the only difference, and it is a tremendous difference. It's awesome.

Q. You mentioned your family. How much of you and your family have had to sacrifice to get to this stage?

DANE SWEENY: A lot. Especially my parents. You know they've never been poor, but not ever been super well-off, so they've had to financially sacrifice a lot and emotionally sacrifice a lot.

Yeah, but I've been pretty independent from when I started making enough money, kind of fund myself. But without a doubt my parents have sacrificed a lot. And my dad stopped his cleaning business, sold that so he can afford to travel with me.

So they've been relentlessly sacrificial my whole life. My friends, they sacrifice a lot to be there for me. And it's all out of love. I'd do the same for them. All those around me have done a lot and always been there for me.

Q. How much has this set up your season financially now?

DANE SWEENY: I don't try and think about the money too much, but it's nice (laughter). It's nice not to have that burden. I can just directly reinvest into my tennis in whatever way that means. But yeah, it definitely eases the financial burden for sure.

Q. Could you imagine this moment 10 months ago when you were 600 in the world?

DANE SWEENY: I could imagine it but it was more like a dream. But, no, I knew deep down I could do this if I kept putting my head down. And yeah I was questioning things a lot back then.

But I think it's credit to just persevering. I was really questioning my game, questioning my journey the court and questioning whether tennis is something I should be doing. But there was that voice deep down that knew I could do it if I kept going. But this is just the beginning.

Q. You sort of alluded to it on the court but how do you come back down from the high now and go again in a few days' time?

DANE SWEENY: Again, it's whatever I'm feeling. It's about doing the very best in each moment, putting my best foot forward no matter what mental noise there is, I am surrendering that and present before each and every point and playing the point with clarity and playing with courage. Whatever noise there is, again, it is just doing the best I can and competing the best I can.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

DANE SWEENY: Yeah, pretty unpredictable the whole time. His forehand would miss at times and it was an absolute beast at times. He looked tired at times, looked up and about at times. It was a lot to problem solve and a lot to take in.

But he was standing and delivering at the end. It was a bit intimidating. I think I did a good job to read what was happening on the other side of the net. I lifted when it counted.

But yeah, it was tricky. It was a lot to take in, a lot to problem solve.

Q. Did you get a chance to look who your next opponent would be?

DANE SWEENY: Yeah, I don't look at draws. I haven't been looking at draws lately. But I asked my good friend Callum and he said I play Shelton.

Q. Guaranteed a big court.

DANE SWEENY: Yeah, I think so. I think people love to watch Shelton, so he'll be on a big court.

Again, I'm very excited at the opportunity to play a big dog like him. I was really hoping first round I would play Sinner or Alcaraz. So playing Shelton it's a good consolation prize playing him second round.

Again, just appreciative at the opportunity to play on a big court, to play a player like him to really test myself. It is obviously going to be very tough. He has arguably the best serve in the world. So that will be a big puzzle to kind of solve.

But I'm very excited at the opportunity. I'm sure it will be a good match.

Q. You signed on the camera 'this too shall pass'. Is that a reference to life on the tour, the journey? What does that mean?

DANE SWEENY: I guess it's a mantra to keep me grounded in life. The only constant in life is change, really. And this is a big moment, it's exciting, but it will come back down. And the same when things are really tough, life it's ever-changing and things are very temporary.

So as much as this moment's very special, I guess it's a mantra to keep myself in the moment and to realize that everything is ever-flowing to just to keep myself grounded, yeah.