{"id":408044,"date":"2026-01-15T04:30:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:30:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/408044\/"},"modified":"2026-01-15T04:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T04:30:10","slug":"aussie-dane-sweeny-claims-150000-spot-in-australian-open-after-battling-through-qualifying","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/408044\/","title":{"rendered":"Aussie Dane Sweeny claims $150,000 spot in Australian Open after battling through qualifying"},"content":{"rendered":"

Local hope Dane Sweeny has reached his second Australian Open<\/a> main draw after fighting his way through qualifying on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Ranked as low as 680th in the world last year, the 24-year-old rose up the rankings with a series of third-tier titles \u2014 and now he\u2019ll get his chance at the very top.<\/p>\n

Sweeny battled to a 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (7-4) win over Italian veteran Stefano Travaglia to secure his spot, and a minimum of $150,000 in prize money, in the grand slam.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

Sweeny raced out to a 5-2 lead in the first set but tightened up, missing two chances to wrap it up before eventually sealing it in the tiebreak.<\/p>\n

Travaglia, a former world No.60, made his experience count in the second set, capitalising on Sweeny\u2019s errors and jumping out to a 4-1 lead.<\/p>\n

But again the local hope, who hit the ground multiple times in the match as he scrapped for points, kept at it.<\/p>\n

Sweeny broke back at 3-4 and both players held serve to send it to a nervy tiebreak that began with four dropped serves.<\/p>\n

Then Sweeny put the foot down, winning five straight points to claim the match as he sunk to the ground and let the crowd\u2019s roar engulf him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in disbelief. I was ranked 700 not so long ago,\u201d Sweeny said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI persevered, I was doubting the whole time and I just feel so incredibly grateful to be able to be in this position.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m proud of myself for just digging in there when it was tough. I can\u2019t really believe it yet but I\u2019m super excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sweeny admitted he was \u201cpassive in the big moments\u201d in the first set and told himself to \u201cplay with conviction \u2014 win or lose\u201d in the second.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I did that and that\u2019s why I won,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At one point in the second set it appeared he had hurt his wrist during one of his trademark dives.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even have a decision when I do that, it\u2019s just intuitive, it just happens,\u201d Sweeny said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it just comes from being small and learning to scrap (from) a young age.\u201d<\/p>\n

He will learn his first-round opponent later on Thursday.<\/p>\n

After that, he and his family might just celebrate with a \u201csomewhere a little bit ritzy with the first-round prize money\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"SweenySweeny last played in a grand slam main draw at the 2024 Australian Open. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Sweeny was an unlikely qualifier at the 2024 Australian Open, making the most of his wildcard opportunity when his last opponent retired.<\/p>\n

He pushed 22nd seed Francisco Cerundolo all the way in the first round but fell to an agonising defeat after nearly three and a half hours.<\/p>\n

Two years on, Sweeny will get another chance to nab a win.<\/p>\n

Jason Kubler is the last Australian man hoping to qualify but faces a tough match-up against current world No.95 Alexander Blockx.<\/p>\n

In the women\u2019s qualifiers, Storm Hunter will battle fellow doubles star Taylor Townsend while Maddison Inglis will meet Tamara Korpatsch.<\/p>\n

Read more Australian Open news<\/p>\n

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2 min read<\/p>\n

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Comeback kid no more: Aussie star crashes out of AO qualifying<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

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