Veterans Matt Ebden and John Peers are about to discover if their doubles excellence can outgun the singles muscle of two of the best players in the world when they shoot for an Olympic medal at Roland Garros.

The Australian duo, a wily combination of two 36-year-olds who have bagged a hatful of doubles titles between them, will have to down Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz, America’s top two singles powerhouses, in Friday’s semifinal to gain a shot at the gold-medal match.

“We’re enjoying being here and thriving in the moment. We’re ready to keep going,” said Peers, the last Australian man to win a tennis medal at the Games.

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Paul, the world No.12, and No.13 Fritz teamed up seamlessly in Thursday’s quarters to bring a ruthlessly unsentimental end to Andy Murray’s career, when they demolished the great Briton and his partner Dan Evans 6-2 6-4 on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

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Peers must have wondered if it might come down to him for the second time in less than a month to try to bring down the curtain on Murray. 

For in early July, he had teamed up with Rinky Hijikata to beat the 37-year-old and his brother Jamie Murray on Centre Court in the Scot’s final match at Wimbledon.

Instead, though, a more formidable challenge now probably awaits against the two in-form Americans as Ebden seeks to become the 10th Aussie tennis player to win an Olympic medal since the sport returned to the program in 1988.

Peers teamed up with Ash Barty for a mixed doubles bronze at the last Games in Tokyo three years ago, but what he really wants is to emulate Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde as the only gold medallists following the victory for “the Woodies”.

It won’t be easy.