Dane Sweeny, ranked 123rd and a wildcard entry, eliminated 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti from the US Open 2026 with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Thursday. The 25-year-old Australian reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, having never previously competed in the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
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A first set lost, then three sets of total control
After dropping the opening set where Musetti appeared in command, Sweeny completely flipped the momentum of the match. The Australian raised his level significantly, suffocating the Italian with relentless consistency and aggressive returning. Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semifinalist, watched helplessly as his opponent seized total control, winning three consecutive sets without ever looking troubled.
Musetti's physical struggles
The situation deteriorated further for the world number 14 in the third set. Trailing 0-3 with a double break deficit, the Italian called for a medical timeout, visibly struggling physically. Upon returning to the court, Musetti never rediscovered his rhythm, allowing Sweeny to close out the match in under two hours.
A breakthrough season for Sweeny
This victory stands as the biggest of the Gold Coast native's career. Sweeny now owns five tour-level wins, including his first Grand Slam main-draw victory earlier this year at the Australian Open against former top-10 player Gaël Monfils. Back-to-back ATP-level wins, a first for him, highlight his steady progression through the Flushing Meadows draw.
Next challenge in the third round
Sweeny will face 21st seed Luciano Darderi on Saturday for a place in the round of 16. The Australian will look to extend a run that echoes Bu Yunchaokete's upset the previous day, another outsider who toppled a favourite in a men's draw full of surprises.
Key numbers: Sweeny, ranked 123rd in the ATP rankings, had never entered the US Open, not even in qualifying. His Grand Slam record before this edition stood at just one win from seven matches. (Sources: ATP Tour, Tennis Majors, ABC News Australia)
