That’s not lost on them either. This pair places value on everything from work ethic to Davis Cup to the green and gold itself. Ebden’s been hanging around other Aussie athletes every night, watching our swimmers win gold, and feeding on their confidence. “Honestly, it’s just a buzz in that village with the Aussie team,” he said. “I just get so much adrenaline and belief from them.”

His medal, he added, won’t go into the trophy cabinet quickly. “It goes just around my neck. I’ll just sleep with it on, and keep it on me. I don’t think it goes anywhere.”

Nor should it; these medals were earned the hard way. They had to overcome US singles specialists Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul to lock in at least a silver medal, and their opponents in the final were no pushover either, but rather the doubles specialists who ousted Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

Ram and Krajicek at first made the game look easier – holding serve more simply, and breaking more often. It would be wrong to say they were always in control, but it would be right to say that the Australians never quite were, at least until it mattered on their dramatic surge home.

“Give yourself a chance. Give yourself a chance. Keep going again,” Peers told himself in that run of gritty points. “As soon as you start thinking it’s done, that’s when you’re done.”

The crowd helped, too. It was a day of revelry in the grandstand, with cries of “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi!” alternating with “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” and “We’re from ‘Straya!” competing with “Let’s go ’Murica!”

Those who arrived early were treated to a brass band and a DJ on the decks. Oh, and the chair umpire quite literally beat-boxing through the microphone while the linesmen and women breakdanced. Then they were treated to a final for the ages, which ended 2 hours and 2 minutes after it began, with the result they came to see.

“They really lifted us, and changed the match and momentum, so merci beaucoup to the French crowd,” said Ebden. “I don’t think we could have done it without them.”

The winners did everything you do in such settings. They brought their kids on court to share the moment: Ebden with son Harvey, and Peers with daughters Harper and Ellie. They draped themselves in the flag. They lobbed a ball each into the crowd.

Peers says the pair travels all year – “It’s a slog” – and felt blessed to have brought their families along, giving their kids a chance to be inspired. “Hopefully they can dream big one day, and know the sky’s the limit. And they can do anything they put their mind to.”

Ebden – still flummoxed with disbelief – had a hard time ranking the win against other major titles. “Olympics? Gold? Like really?” he asked. “It’s beyond me.”

What they’re in no doubt about, however, is what this means between them. The pair live just streets apart in Perth, and will share this moment forever. “This one’s really special,” said Peers. “We’re going to be talking about this one until we’re 100.”

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