MELBOURNE — Tennis showman Gael Monfils ended his 20-year Australian Open run on Tuesday with a mix of pain and regret, falling to local qualifier Dane Sweeny in the first round.

The 39-year-old Frenchman, playing in his final Australian Open, lost 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 in a match heavily affected by injury. Despite being limited in movement, Monfils still delivered moments of his trademark flair, drawing loud applause from the packed Kia Arena crowd.

“My journey started in 2003 with you guys. Now we are in 2026, and somehow it’s the finish line,” Monfils told the cheering fans. “Thank you so much for this amazing ride. You guys have been unbelievable.”

Monfils added, “I’ve got a lot of great memories here. I’ve been very lucky to play here for many years. Thank you very much.”

Home fans, some waving inflatable kangaroos, loudly supported the 24-year-old Sweeny. The Australian fought back from 5-3 down in the second set, winning four straight games to take it 7-5.

However, the cheers began to soften as Monfils’ movement worsened, leaving him to crawl across the baseline in a crab-like motion.

Sweeny held his early advantage and won the third set, while Monfils’ wife, Ukrainian tennis professional Elina Svitolina, arrived at his players’ box to offer moral support.

Just when it seemed the match would end in disappointment, Monfils suddenly pushed forward and played aggressively, catching Sweeny off guard. Monfils blasted a backhand down the line to break and surged ahead to a 4-1 lead in the fourth set.

The momentum shifted again, though, as Sweeny regained his composure and won six of the next seven games. The young Australian then closed out the match, earning his first-ever Grand Slam victory. -Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus/Reuters