Dane Sweeny Gets Up On A Chair To Hug 6'11"-Tall Reilly Opelka, Video Goes Viral

Last Updated:January 05, 2026, 14:52 IST

Dane Sweeny uses a chair to hug Reilly Opelka after their Brisbane International match. The latter advances to face Kamil Majchrzak next.

Dane Sweeny climbs a chair to hug Reilly Opelka (Picture credit: Screengrab from X)

Australian tennis star Dane Sweeny had to bring out a chair to complete the post-match formalities with opponent Reilly Opelka at the ongoing Brisbane International, since the latter, at a whopping 6’11", is way taller than Sweeny, who is 5’7".

Opelka, who began his Brisbane International campaign with a straight-sets win (6-3, 7-5) against Sweeny, was left smiling at the gesture.

Sweeny had come into the main draw with a thrilling win against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley and compatriot Christopher O’Connell. Watch the video here:

Opelka will next take on Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak in the second round of the Brisbane International. He had quarterfinal finishes at the Swiss Indoors, Open du Pays d’Aix and the Dallas Open last year and a semifinal finish at the Libema Open.

At last year’s Brisbane International, Opelka had a run to the final but had to give a walkover to Jiri Lehecka.

Meanwhile, Lehecka outlasted fellow Czech Tomas Machac over three sets Monday to book his place in the second round of the tournament.

Lehecka, the third seed, saw off his sometime training partner Machac 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in almost two-and-a-half hours on Pat Rafter Arena.

“The weather and the court conditions here are things that I look forward to. There is no better place to start the season than here. It is never easy, I have known Tomas since we were kids and we actually practised together before we came here to Brisbane," Lehecka said after the match.

“It was a great match, I think the level was high for a first match of the season for both of us, so I am super happy for the win," Lehecka said.

The defending champion now plays American Sebastian Korda, who defeated Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot 7-6 (7/1), 6-3.

USA’s Alex Michelsen survived a hard battle against local lad James Duckworth 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 and will next play compatriot Learner Tien.

News sports tennis Dane Sweeny Gets Up On A Chair To Hug 6'11"-Tall Reilly Opelka, Video Goes Viral

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