Dane Sweeny exits US Open to end Australia’s singles chances
Posted Sun 6 Sep 2026 at 11:01amSun 6 Sep 2026 at 11:01amSun 6 Sep 2026 at 11:01am
In short:
Dane Sweeny lost 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to Italy’s Luciano Darderi in the third round.
Sweeny was the last Australian in the singles draws.
Past US Open finalists Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova were all eliminated.
Dane Sweeny’s gallant US Open campaign has come to a frustrating end with a tough third-round loss to 21st-seeded Italian Luciano Darderi.
Sweeny complained of a hip injury during a 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 defeat to the world number 22 that left Australia without a second-week singles hope in New York for the first time in five years.
Alex de Minaur’s shock second-round loss to Botic van de Zandschulp meant Sweeny was Australia’s last player standing at Flushing Meadows.
“It’s been an amazing week, a career-changing week, but I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed just with today’s performance,” Sweeny said.
“I just wasn’t really feeling it, just not really feeling the timing and the rhythm as I have been. I just made a lot of cheap errors and that was quite frustrating.
“I was OK to lose a match, but I really wanted to test him more and bring a good level so I could make an absolute fight out of it.
“Win or lose, I wanted to really make him work for the victory at least and I wasn’t able to do that.”
The world number 123 only gained a last-minute entry to the US Open after two late withdrawals allowed Tennis Australia to grant Sweeny the reciprocal wildcard it initially handed to Alexei Popyrin.
Despite his disappointment, Sweeny cashed in on his good fortune.
The 25-year-old turned his first US Open main-draw appearance into a watershed run to the last 32 of a major for the first time.
The Queenslander will walk away with a life-changing cheque for $402,500 and a fresh career-high ranking.
“The financial side of things, that will help with coaching and people you travel with,” Sweeny said.
Sweeny is provisionally slated to climb to number 109 in the world.
If he can crack the top 100 by season’s end, Sweeny will earn direct entry to the Australian Open for the first time.
“That’s exciting too. But that will take care of itself,” Sweeny said.
“It’s hard not to worry about that because we’re indoctrinated to want that low number next to our name, but I can just focus on working hard, focus on improving.
“Particularly just staying really kind to myself and trying to enjoy the journey.”
American tilt takes a hit
Past US Open finalists Taylor Fritz, Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova all crashed out in the third round, dealing a stinging blow to home fans.
Men’s ninth seed Fritz had yet to drop a set in New York and looked well on his way to another routine victory before Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo found his best tennis to flip the script and win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
It was the earliest exit in four years for the 2024 runner-up, as Cerundolo reached the fourth round for the first time.
The American women fared no better as China’s Zheng Qinwen fought back from a 5-0 deficit in the decider to beat 2017 runner-up Keys 1-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5, collapsing on the court in utter joy as she fights back from a career slump.
Zheng will next face 2022 champion and former world number one, Iga Świątek, who got past Czech Marie Bouzková 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/3).
Tenth-seeded Anisimova, last year’s runner-up, was unable to reverse her fortunes in a frustrating year at the majors, with a 6-2, 7-5 defeat by Anastasia Potapova.
Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open winner, provided the lone bright spot for the Americans when she beat Spain’s Cristina Bucșa 6-3, 6-4 in the third round.
AAP/Reuters