Australian Open 2026 — LIVE Updates: Super Sweeny Storms Through; Sinner Begins Title Defense; Duckworth in the Mix; Tiley Responds to Critics
AO26 LIVE: Sweeny stuns; Sinner starts; Duckworth Super Sweeny’s Stunning Win Over Monfils In one of the standout moments of the early tournament, Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny produced a sensational performance to topple beloved veteran Gaël Monfils in the first round. The 24-year-old, ranked outside the top 150, battled through a four-set duel — winning 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 — to claim his first Grand Slam match victory, all while the French crowd favourite brought the house down in what is expected to be his final Australian Open outing. Monfils, hampered by injury, ultimately couldn’t match Sweeny’s composure down the stretch in front of a roaring crowd at Kia Arena , marking a career-defining moment for the local hopeful. Sinner Kicks Off Title Defense Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner made his first appearance of the tournament with a determined start. The Italian — aiming for a rare third consecutive Australian Open crown — overcame an early wobble in his match against Hugo Gaston , holding serve after falling to 0-40 a…
