Brisbane
Sweeny on Opelka’s viral handshake: ‘I told the guys I’d do the Dudi Sela!’
Sweeny speaks exclusively to ATPtour.com about the memorable moment
January 6, 2026
Reilly Opelka beats Dane Sweeny in straight sets on Monday in Brisbane before receiving a special greeting at net.
By ATP staff
Sixteen centimeters separate Reilly Opelka and Dane Sweeny, but Sweeny didn’t seem to mind at the ANZ-presented Brisbane International on Tuesday.
After Opelka defeated the Australian 6-3, 7-5 at the ATP 250 event, the 6-foot-2 Sweeny grabbed a chair to step up and hug the American. They shared a viral moment online.
“I just try not to be too serious with my tennis,” Sweeny told ATPTour.com. “And I told the guys, my friends, that at the end of the match I was going to do the Dudi Sela. Dudi Sela did it a while ago with Karlovic. So I thought that was quite iconic and he’s 18 inches taller and I thought it would be quite funny.”
Sweeny was referring to 2014 in Bogota, where Dudi Sela did the same after losing his sixth consecutive Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting against Ivo Karlovic. That hug remains a fan favorite.
“I think it’s emblematic of the mentality I’m trying to bring this year,” Sweeny said. “I’m just trying to have fun with it as a whole.”
Watch the full video below.
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