‘It’s sick’: Aussie tennis battlers march on at US Open
Darren Walton |
Grateful Australian wildcard Dane Sweeny and inspired qualifier Tristan Schoolkate have grown up together since they were 10.
They have shared practice courts, ping-pong tables and apartments in tennis backwaters all around the world.
Now the odd couple share an improbable place in the US Open second round after scrapping and diving around Flushing Meadows like Boris Becker in pursuit of grand slam glory.
“Yeah, it’s really nice. I’m always rooting for the Aussie boys and it’s nice to see a couple get over the line, especially Tristan. We’ve known each other for so long,” Sweeny told AAP.
The 25-year-old was sporting the scars of battle, a massive ice bag on his right elbow after throwing himself desperately at volleys on court 7 on Tuesday (Wednesday) AEST).
But Sweeny said it was “all good, it was worth it” after securing a $US190,000 ($A266,000) pay day for posting his maiden grand slam win outside of Australia.
“The lump’s usually standard, but I haven’t been icing it. When I dive, I land on the same spot every time, so it just keeps popping up,” Sweeny said after advancing when the equally theatrical Frenchman Corentin Moutet retired with a forearm injury while trailing 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 3-0.
“I’ve got like permanent fluid build-up there. Sometimes I can’t help it – I’m in the air before I even know it.”
Schoolkate was on his own natural high after finishing off American qualifier Nishesh Basavareddy 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 in a tick over three hours, then celebrating like Lleyton Hewitt after giving Australia at least seven players in the second round.
“The atmosphere’s pretty cool. They’re chanting ‘USA, USA’. It’s sick,” Schoolkate said.
“I haven’t lost in the first round here yet, so, it’s a good start. I’m coming through qualies this time and that gave me a lot of confidence and I played a really good match. Probably the best match I’ve played here.”
The 25-year-old said his latest triumph was even more special, happening on the same day as Sweeny’s big breakthrough.
“It was epic,” Schoolkate said.
“I couldn’t help but sit and look at the scoreboard the whole time and see his score pop up. So I was pretty pumped.
“We were both amped when we saw each other this morning and, yeah, we hoped it was going to be a good day for us.”
Fittingly, the good mates both play quality Italians next.
Schoolkate faces fifth seed Fabio Cobolli, the 2026 French Open runner-up, while Sweeny takes on world No.14 Lorenzo Musetti.
“I’m really excited to play Musetti,” Sweeny said.
“It’s going to be a great match. He’s obviously one of the world’s best players and I’m really excited to take it to him.”
Sweeny and Schoolkate join fellow Australians Alexei Popyrin, James Duckworth, Taylah Preston, Kim Birrell and Maya Joint in round two.
But men’s sixth seed Alex de Minaur and Australian women’s No.1 Daria Kasatkina will have to wait another day to try to follow suit after more rain in New York wiped out the day-three night session.
De Minaur did not even make it on to The Grandstand for his first-round clash with Italian qualifier Andrea Guerrieri, while Kasatkina’s stop-start affair with Spaniard Paula Badosa was halted for the night in sensational fashion.
After first being forced off court early in the second set, while trailing Badosa 6-1 1-2, Kasatkina was delighted when officials called it a night immediately after she saved a third match point.
Badosa was furious but will return to continue serving out the contest at 5-4 and deuce in the second set on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).
Luckless Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis had to pull out of his scheduled opener against Spanish 12th seed Rafael Nodar with an ankle injury.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Tennis Australia.
AAP