Evergreen-and-gold, veterans Matt Ebden and John Peers have won a delightfully unexpected gold medal, becoming only the second Australian tennis champions at the Olympics.
The two unseeded 36-year-olds, stalwarts of the doubles scene for so long, enjoyed a crowning late-career moment as they beat American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram.
The three set match 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-1) (10-8) earned them a nail-biting Roland Garros men’s doubles victory on Saturday.
They became the only Australian gold medallists in Olympic tennis after ‘The Woodies’, Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde lifted the 1996 title in the same event.
Between them, the Aussie pair have won a hatful of titles but never had a moment like this, with their wives and kids on hand at Court Philippe Chatrier, one of the world’s great tennis amphitheatres, to watch their finest hour as they prevailed in three tie-breaks after the most entertaining of finals.
The three set match earned Matthew Ebden and John Peers a nail-biting Roland Garros men’s doubles victory on Saturday
Team Australia celebrate match point during the Tennis Men’s Doubles Gold Medal match against Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of Team United States on day eight of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
