Retirement tours carry raw emotion, and farewells at Grand Slams cut deepest. For Gael Monfils, Melbourne marked his final Australian Open appearance after a heartbreaking first-round loss to Australia’s Dane Sweeny. As the lights dimmed on Kia Arena, the French showman paused, absorbed the moment, and shared an emotional message before bidding a poignant goodbye.

The former world number six suffered a 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 4-6, 5-7 defeat in the first round. After the match, he stayed on court to address the crowd that had supported him throughout his career. Fans responded warmly with a standing ovation.

Speaking with emotion, he reflected on his long journey at the tournament. “My journey started in 2003 with you guys. I came here the 1st time. Now we are in 2026, & somehow it’s the finish line. Thank you so much for this amazing ride.” His words drew loud applause.

He continued by recalling special moments in Melbourne. “You guys have been unbelievable. I have got a lot of great memories here. A couple of big battles, quarters, four fronts, even today was almost four hours,” he added, highlighting the physical and emotional demands of the match.

He then praised his Australian opponent. “You guys did an amazing job, I told him at the net, I read his story, this kid got hurt, I wish you good luck for the next one because, wow, he is playing very good,” he said. 

His farewell closed with emotion. “And again, big thanks, I am very grateful, very lucky, you know, to play her for many years. So lastly, thank you very much.”

Widely regarded as the “greatest showman” in tennis history, Gaël Monfils brought the curtain down on his 20th Australian Open campaign. The moment carried heavy emotion for both the player and the fans.

Hampered by injury, the 39-year-old still delivered flashes of brilliance. 

Monfils, playing his final season, first appeared at the AO as a junior in 2003. Against the Queenslander, ranked world No.182, he showed his trademark flair and produced several eye-catching shots that hinted at a comeback.

Now ranked 110, Monfils once climbed as high as world No.6 during his peak years. Under the glaring Melbourne sunshine, he appeared to struggle physically as the match wore on.

He made his main-draw debut at the tournament in 2005.  Although Paris-born Monfils never won a Grand Slam, he often went deep at major events. His quarter-final runs in Melbourne in 2016 and 2022 stand out. 

And while his final appearance ended in first-round heartbreak, Dane Sweeney celebrated the biggest win of his career.

Queenslander shares raw emotions after victory over French veteran

On Tuesday afternoon, Dane Sweeny stepped onto court against a vastly more experienced opponent and refused to be overawed by the occasion.

Sweeny faced a rival ranked 72 places above him, 23 centimetres taller, and with nearly 15 more years on tour. Still, he showed that anything is possible for an Australian on home soil.

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The Aussie delivered an electric performance. At times, he looked like he was playing dodgeball rather than tennis, dipping and diving across the court with fearless energy on his way to victory.

After the match, Sweeny reflected on his long journey. “I’ve been doing this since before I was even aware of myself. I was two years old when I started playing, so I can’t even comprehend how much work I’ve put in – it’s been my whole life since I can remember,” he said.

He struggled to absorb the moment. “I feel like I’m watching a show right now, it feels pretty unbelievable to be in this position.” His acrobatics only added to the drama on court.

The atmosphere was intense. French and Australian fans went head to head in the stands, matching the emotion and theatre unfolding between their heroes on the blue court.

The match nearly slipped away when Gaël Monfils took the first set in a tight tiebreak. Ranked 110 now but once world No.6, Monfils still showed his class and experience.

However, the veteran could not sustain the pace. Under the harsh Melbourne sun, his movement faded. 

Sweeny will face eighth seed Ben Shelton on January 22 for a place in the third round. Can he bring the same flair and stun the American with another shock result?