Diminutive Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny has delivered a stunning upset at the US Open, defeating 14th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on 3 September 2026 to reach the third round of a grand slam for the first time. The victory marks the biggest win of Sweeny's career and comes despite him being ranked 109 places below his Italian opponent, according to live match data.
Standing only 5ft 5in (170cm) tall, Sweeny rose to the occasion in a David-versus-Goliath contest that saw him earn a minimum prize of $US290,000 ($A402,750). The wildcard entry, who arrived at the tournament ranked 123rd in the world, dominated the encounter on Court 17, running Musetti ragged throughout the match.
Musetti, a semi-finalist at both Wimbledon and the French Open over the past two years, visibly struggled during the contest. He required a medical time-out after falling behind a double break at 0-3 in the crucial third set, and continued remonstrating animatedly to his courtside box even after clawing one break back. Despite sporting a massive ice pack on his right elbow following his first-round victory, Sweeny continued diving acrobatically at the net in the style of Boris Becker to secure winning volleys.
"I'm just grateful to be even able to compete in grand slams. The tennis journey is such a rollercoaster," Sweeny said. "And to soak up the atmosphere and get a win, a couple of wins, in front of this crowd, is awesome."
The breakthrough victory propels Sweeny to a career-best ranking of 115 in the world or better. He will face Italian world No 22 Luciano Darderi in the third round on Saturday (AEST), continuing his improbable run through the tournament.
How did Australia's other challengers fare?
The Australian contingent experienced mixed fortunes on the day. Tristan Schoolkate, who had impressed his way through qualifying, saw his inspired run halted by fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli. Schoolkate claimed the opening set before the Italian demonstrated his quality to prevail 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 after two hours and 41 minutes in New York's scorching summer heat. Cobolli will advance to face Alexander Blockx in the third round.
Alexei Popyrin fell short of reaching the last 32 once again, two years after his memorable upset of Novak Djokovic in the US Open's third round. The Australian lost a tense four-set battle to Chilean 25th seed Alejandro Tabilo, surrendering the opening set before Tabilo claimed two pivotal tiebreakers to win 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-2. The result means Tabilo will likely face German top seed Alexander Zverev in the next round, following Zverev's recent five-hour marathon victory over Lorenzo Sonego.
What lies ahead for Sweeny?
Sweeny's third-round assignment against Darderi represents another significant test, but the Australian has already exceeded expectations by reaching this stage. His performance against Musetti suggests he possesses the skill and determination to compete at the highest level, despite his modest ranking and physical stature. The 25-year-old's breakthrough at Flushing Meadows has captured the attention of the tennis world and provided hope for Australian tennis fans.
Australia's sixth seed Alex de Minaur, who advanced to the second round despite weather delays, was scheduled to face Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp on The Grandstand court following Schoolkate's match.
Key Facts
- Sweeny defeated 14th seed Musetti 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on 3 September 2026, marking his first grand slam third-round appearance
- The 109-place ranking gap between Sweeny (123rd) and Musetti (14th) underscores the magnitude of the upset
- Sweeny earned $US290,000 ($A402,750) for reaching the last 32 and will face Luciano Darderi next
- Schoolkate and Popyrin both exited in the second round, losing to Cobolli and Tabilo respectively
- Sweeny's victory projects him to a career-best ranking of 115 or higher following the tournament
