- Has uncanny likeness to former world No 1
- Prepared for raucous reception in Aussie Open debut
- Even celebrates like Hewitt did
Lleyton Hewitt doppelganger Dane Sweeny is set to become a crowd favourite at John Cain Arena when he makes his Australian Open debut.
Sweeny has developed his own cult following due to his uncanny likeness to former world No.1 Hewitt, and the 22-year-old Queenslander is expected to attract a large crowd to the indoor arena, which is open to fans with a ground pass.
Missing through injury this year, Nick Kyrgios has previously revelled in the raucous environment at John Cain Arena, with Australian fans getting behind their player.
Sweeny came through qualifying at Melbourne Park to book a first-round clash with Argentine Francisco Cerundolo on Sunday, with the tournament brought forward from its traditional Monday start.
Dane Sweeny will attract plenty of fans to day one of the Australian Open in Melbourne
Sweeny has attracted plenty of attention for his appearance, greatly resembling Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt
He is one of four Australians in action on Sunday, with Adam Walton, Jason Kubler and Chris O’Connell also flying the home flag.
Ranked No.257 in the world, Sweeny has never played 22nd seed Cerundolo, but felt his game was now at a level to match the sport’s elite players.
Last year Sweeny qualified for the Shanghai Masters and defeated Japan’s world No.71 Taro Daniel in straight sets in the first round.
‘I think I’ve been playing the type of tennis that’s going to make me qualify and play good enough for these big events,’ Sweeny said after winning his third qualifying match to secure a spot in the main draw.
‘I knew it was going to come at some stage, and for it to happen now it’s great.
‘I can’t wait to play five sets against some of the best players in the world.’
The 2023 Open men’s doubles champion alongside fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata, Kubler is looking to improve on last year’s second-round showing when he takes on Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan.
Kubler, ranked No.112, downed world No. 89 Galan in their only previous meeting in Houston on clay last year.
Sydneysider O’Connell, who made the quarter-finals in Adelaide this week, takes on Chilean Cristian Garin, who at world No. 88 is 17 spots behind the veteran Australian.
Walton is back in Australia after a stint playing US college tennis with Tennessee.
Making his grand slam debut, the Queenslander, ranked No.176, faces a tough battle against Italian world No.41 Matteo Arnaldi.
