Australian Tennis Player Wins $402K After Quitting Sport

Just two years after walking away from tennis because he'd started to hate it, 25-year-old Dane Sweeny from Penrith, Australia just pocketed at least $402,000 at the US Open.

Sweeny had fallen to 700th in the world rankings by 2024. For the first time in his career, he questioned whether he belonged in professional tennis at all.

After Wimbledon that year, he put down his racquet and took two months completely off. "I started to really dislike tennis," Sweeny told The First Serve about his sabbatical.

But distance made the heart grow fonder. Sweeny returned to the tour, climbed back inside the top 200, and earned a wildcard entry to the 2026 US Open.

On Friday morning in New York, everything changed. Sweeny knocked out men's 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in what commentators called "the biggest win of his career."

The victory pushed him into the third round of a major championship for the first time ever. His world ranking jumped to 109th, with room to climb higher before the tournament ends.

"I'm so grateful to even be able to compete in a grand slam," Sweeny said on court after the match. "The tennis journey is such a rollercoaster."

Why This Inspires

Sweeny's comeback proves that stepping back doesn't mean giving up. His two-month break gave him the perspective he needed to fall back in love with the sport that had been grinding him down.

"That's the beautiful thing about pursuing something as hard as tennis," he said. "Tennis can change on the flip of a coin."

Australian tennis legend Jelena Dokic praised his performance as "unbelievable," highlighting his court coverage and physical intensity. Sweeny made his opponent work for every point, extending rallies and pushing the match into a physical battle.

The win wasn't just about taking advantage of Musetti's injury struggles during the match. Sweeny earned it through relentless effort and smart strategy.

He kept persevering even when results weren't coming. "The law of probability, I knew it was going to swing in my favour if I just kept going," Sweeny explained.

Now he faces another challenge: Italian player Luciano Darderi, the 21st seed, in Sunday's third round.

Coming back after his two-month break was "the best decision I ever made," Sweeny said, soaking up the moment in front of an enthusiastic crowd.