Australian underdog Dane Sweeny produced one of the standout moments of his US Open meeting with 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, forcing the Italian into a desperate scramble before winning an absorbing point.
The rally came during their second-round contest at Flushing Meadows, where Sweeny was facing his first career meeting with the highly ranked Musetti.
Sweeny arrived in New York as a wildcard and had already made an impression on his Grand Slam main-draw debut by defeating France’s Corentin Moutet in the opening round. He recovered from 5-2 down in the first set before progressing after Moutet retired while trailing 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, 3-0.
The 25-year-old’s all-action approach has been a feature of his run in New York. Sweeny has spoken of his willingness to throw himself around the court in pursuit of points, a style that has helped turn him into one of the tournament’s most eye-catching outsiders.
Musetti, who advanced after beating Britain’s Arthur Fery in straight sets, represented a significant step up in opposition. But Sweeny’s remarkable point against the seeded Italian showed that the Australian was prepared to match him for athleticism and fight.
