Qualifier Sweeny Upsets Veteran Monfils in Australian Open Thriller

Monfils Battles in 20th Australian Open Appearance But Falls to Local Qualifier Sweeny After 3+ Hours of Twists

© David Gray AFP

Clément Gehl

le 20/01/2026 à 08h10

1 min to read

Monfils Gael Sweeny Dane

Gaël Monfils was making his 20th appearance at the Australian Open. He faced qualifier Dane Sweeny on Tuesday in the first round.

Despite missing 5 break points, he won the first set in a tiebreak 7-3. While serving for the second set and earning a set point on his own serve, the Frenchman saw the Australian mount a comeback and win the next 4 games to claim the second set.

End of the Road for Monfils

The third set also went the way of Sweeny, who didn't face a single break point. In the fourth set, Monfils took the lead first with a break in the fourth game before being broken back in the seventh.

The Frenchman ultimately faltered at 5-5, with Sweeny prevailing 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 7-5. That spells the end of Gaël Monfils' Australian adventure, with his best results in Melbourne being quarterfinal appearances in 2016 and 2022.