Dane Sweeny, a look-alike of Lleyton Hewitt, is expected to win over the crowd at John Cain Arena as he prepares for his first appearance at the Australian Open.
Sweeny has gained a devoted group of followers because of his striking resemblance to previous top-ranked player Hewitt. The 22-year-old from Queensland is anticipated to draw a significant audience to the indoor venue, which is accessible to fans with a general admission ticket.
Unable to play due to injury this season, Nick Kyrgios has previously thrived in the lively atmosphere at John Cain Arena, where Australian supporters passionately support their player.
Sweeny successfully advanced through the qualifying round at Melbourne Park and is set to face off against Argentine player Francisco Cerundolo in the first round on Sunday. The tournament has been rescheduled to begin on Sunday instead of the usual Monday start.
On the first day, four Australians will be competing, including Adam Walton, Jason Kubler, and Chris O’Connell. Australia has 18 male players in the main draw, the largest number since 1998.
Sweeny, currently ranked 257th in the world, has not yet faced 22nd seed Cerundolo. However, Sweeny believes that his skills have improved to the point where he can compete with top players in the sport. In the past year, Sweeny qualified for the Shanghai Masters and defeated Taro Daniel, ranked 71st in the world from Japan, in the first round with a straight-set victory.
“I believe I have been performing at a level of tennis that will allow me to qualify and compete successfully in major tournaments,” said Sweeny following his third qualifying victory which secured his spot in the main draw. “I was aware that this opportunity would come eventually, and I am thrilled that it has happened now. I am eager to play five sets against some of the top players in the world.”
In the men’s doubles event at the 2023 Open, Australian player Kubler, partnering with Rinky Hijikata, aims to surpass their second-round performance from last year. Their opponent will be Colombian player Daniel Elahi Galan. Kubler, currently ranked 112th in the world, defeated Galan (ranked 89th) in their only prior encounter on clay in Houston last year.
Sydney resident O’Connell, who reached the quarter-finals in Adelaide earlier this week, will compete against Chilean Cristian Garin, who is ranked 88th in the world and is 17 places lower than the experienced Australian. Walton has returned to Australia after playing college tennis in the US for Tennessee. In his first ever grand slam appearance, the player from Queensland, ranked 176th, will face a challenging match against Italian player Matteo Arnaldi, who is ranked 41st in the world.
After seven years of being out of the tennis scene, Omar Jasika has found renewed motivation to return to the main stage of a grand slam tournament. The once highly-touted player will finally have another chance to compete in the Australian Open.
The 26-year-old player from Victoria, who was only able to participate in the qualifying round with a wildcard, won his last match on Friday and earned a place in the main draw for the Open. Jasika expressed that it was difficult to put into words how he felt after waiting so long for another chance to participate in the Open, with his last opportunity being in 2017. “I have mixed emotions, to be honest – I am extremely excited but also feeling a bit confused and unsure about what is happening,” he shared. “It has been an incredible experience and I have played well in three matches, so I believe that I have earned my spot in the main draw.”
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Recently, I have been excelling in my tennis skills and focusing on my own progress. As a child, I didn’t fully appreciate the importance of professionalism, but now as an older and more mature person, I am committed to every little detail in my training, and it’s paying off.
In 2014, Jasika made history by becoming the first player in nearly three decades to win both the US Open boys singles and doubles championships. Two years later, he made it to the second round of the Australian Open. However, his hopes of achieving success on the professional tour were disrupted in late 2018 when he received a two-year suspension for testing positive for cocaine. During this time, he worked in a factory and a bar, while seeing his fellow players advance in their careers.
He expressed that it was difficult to watch his friends participate in the Australian Open every year while he stayed at home, sitting on the couch. This has motivated him to push through today’s matches.
Australia will have a total of 21 players participating in the main singles draws, with Storm Hunter, the highest-ranked doubles player, securing their spot on Friday.
