Diminutive Dane Sweeny and qualifier Tristan Schoolkate have stormed into the US Open second round to continue Australia’s excellent start to the season’s final grand slam.
Sweeny was leading the crafty Corentin Moutet 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 3-0 when the Frenchman retired injured on Monday (Tuesday AEST).
Schoolkate then celebrated like Lleyton Hewitt when he finished off American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a tick over three hours.
The 25-year-old Sweeny marked his maiden appearance in the US Open main draw with a first-ever victory at an overseas grand slam.
The wildcard next faces either Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti or rising Brit Arthur Fery for an improbable place in the last 32.
Schoolkate is into round two for a second time and will next play Italian fifth seed Fabio Cobolli, the 2026 French Open runner-up.
Sweeny, who only stands 170cm high, and Schoolkate give Australia at least seven players in round two, joining Taylah Preston, Kim Birrell, Maya Joint, Alexei Popyrin and James Duckworth.
Men’s sixth seed Alex de Minaur and women’s Australian No.1 Daria Kasatkina will try to join the party in their first-round matches later on day three.
Sixth-seeded de Minaur launches his title quest against Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri, while Kasatkina is set to face Spain’s former world No.2 Paula Badosa.
But the luckless Thanasi Kokkinakis had to pull out of his scheduled opener against Spanish 12th seed Rafael Nodar with an ankle injury.
Aussie women strong start
Australia’s women have played a significant role in the strong start, with Taylah Preston, Kim Birrell and Maya Joint all safely through to the second round.
Birrell’s victory was particularly hard-earned, the 28-year-old saving a match point before overcoming Petra Marcinko in three sets to record her first US Open main-draw win. The result is also set to propel the Queenslander to a career-high ranking.
Joint, 20, produced an impressive comeback of her own, recovering from a set down to beat former world No.12 Liudmila Samsonova 3-6 6-2 6-2. She now faces a major test against ninth seed Elina Svitolina, while Preston is also chasing a place in the last 32 after claiming her maiden US Open victory.
And Australia’s biggest hope is still waiting in the wings.
Sixth seed Alex de Minaur begins his campaign against Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri, carrying the expectations of another deep run at Flushing Meadows as he leads an Australian contingent already making its presence felt in New York.
Daria Kasatkina also has the chance to add another Australian name to the second round when she takes on former world No.2 Paula Badosa.
with Starts at 60 writers
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