VWeekend: ‘I still get goosebumps’: How tennis pair’s Olympic pipe dream became reality
John Peers and Matt Ebden netted gold in Paris in the best Olympic result for Australian tennis in 28 years. Four months later, these super dads are still cherishing that historic victory.
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Five months after being crowned an Olympic champion alongside teammate John Peers, Matt Ebden still shakes his head in disbelief about his Paris triumph.
His Paris Olympics had started with his first singles match in more than two years – an ignominious 6-0 6-1 loss to arguably the greatest of all time, Novak Djokovic – after he was a fill-in when other players pulled out.
A week later, he takes to the court alongside John Peers in the men’s doubles and after five gruelling matches he’s the Olympics’ doubles gold medallist.
It was Australian tennis’ best Olympic result in 28 years – winning a gold for the first time since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1996.
All the planning, plotting, training and dreaming had achieved the ultimate goal for the two 36-year-old super dads.
They beat Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of the United States 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 10-8 in a match tie-breaker to secure a famous victory.
Four months on and it still blows Ebden away.
“I still get goosebumps reminiscing on what we did. Sometimes I randomly get a thought and get quite emotional,” he says. “It’s like match point, it didn’t happen, but it did. It’s still sinking in and kind of surreal but those are the special moments in sport that we cherish and will hold on to literally for a lifetime.”
Ebden and Peers, both successful doubles players largely with other partners, had previously played the odd Davis Cup match together.
It was in April in Rome on the clay courts that they had their first practise together with the Olympics in mind.
“Mainly I talked with John, with each other, we’re both experienced and it’s not our first rodeo,” Ebden says.
“We’re both experienced, talked with our (Davis Cup) captain Lleyton (Hewitt) and our coaches and mentors on tour.
“Mainly with each other, we mapped out a plan for those few months. We started putting in the thoughts and the planning then.
“We thought it would be a pipe dream and the biggest cherry on top to somehow win a gold medal. But it was definitely the gold we wanted. Winning slams before, I think I entered the Olympics with the No.1 ranking so I naturally had that confidence and belief.
“I said to John: ‘How can we find our best team, win this gold medal?’ That was the goal from the word go.
“Not everything turns out but counting my blessings that this turned out.”
“From the word go, Ellie said she wanted a medal and as the days went on she said, ‘Daddy, I want a gold medal’,” Peers says.
“When she got home it was a little surreal for her, everyone at school knew her name. She was loving it. I’m glad I didn’t look up at those moments to see what she was doing.
“It was special to have my wife and the girls there. For me, the Olympics is the biggest one, you only get one chance every four years to get a chance at it. I’ve been lucky enough to play three times and this was Matt’s first time.
“For us to stand up and say we won Olympic gold, for me playing for Australia is what I play tennis for and what I’ve tried to do. That’s been the pinnacle. Being on top of the podium, seeing your flag up high singing the national anthem is something you dream of and didn’t think would be possible.”
Ebden adds: “That first 24 hours was a huge buzz. We went all around Paris, did all the media, Eiffel Tower, back to the village, more media and were with friends and family that night. It took me a few weeks to be able to come down from that buzz and focus again.
“We are planning a few parties to reflect and digest and look back and celebrate because we didn’t get too much time.
“For me, it was all just different. It’s hard to compare. As tennis players, grand slams are the pinnacle but then shifting into the realm of the Olympics where there’s 50 other sports all on the same team and there’s that whole playing for your country. That’s like nothing I could explain or comprehend going into it.”
The celebrations didn’t last too long in Paris: Ebden flew out a day later to compete in Canada and Peers flew out 48 hours later for the US.
Even now they are still catching up with friends and family to celebrate and show off their medals, with Peers to see extended family in Melbourne over the summer.
The pair made it to the Newcombe Medal – tennis’ night of nights – this week, where Ebden was named joint winner with Alex de Minaur.
It briefly crossed Ebden and Peers’ minds to continue the partnership but their schedules didn’t quite align.
Ebden, now 37, is teaming with Belgian Joran Vliegen while Peers has rejoined Brit Jamie Murray who he started out with originally. In October, they won their seventh doubles title together.
Ebden was with the Davis Cup team in Spain in November but for both players, the Olympics win has given them a huge boost in confidence and belief.
“We’re not the youngest guys going around anymore but we’ve still got some good years ahead of us,’’ Ebden says.
“We’re still fit and healthy. It’s only two or three years after finishing singles. I still feel I’ve got many years left I hope. That’s why we can’t take anything for granted. I think that’s also why winning this gold medal you really cherish them so much because you never know how many years you do have left. Even if it’s two, three, five, 10 years left, these huge moments are life changing.”
Ebden will play for Team Australia in the United Cup in Sydney which starts at the end of December, and then they’ll both prepare for the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.
The Perth-based duo will continue on tour – Peers will travel with his wife and two daughters, while Ebden travels with his wife and son.
“For us it has been a lot,’’ Peers says.
“Pre-covid, the girls travelled every week but the last few years we’ve done about five or six months on the road. We definitely make it work and we know we can’t do it forever. The day we stop travelling is the day we stop playing.
“It’s not every day the kids get to do this and my girls love travelling. They get on a plane like they get into a car. It’s great they get into school and keep the academics going but we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.
“It’s always great to be back in Oz and spend the summer here. When the family is away it’s easy to take holidays while we’re away.”
For Peers, it’s a no-brainer that they’d rekindle their bromance for the LA 2028 Olympics.
A second gold medal? Now that would be another sliding doors moment.
“You could sign us up for LA right now,’’ Peers says.
“We both feel fresh and ready to keep pushing and could sign on the dotted line.
“You’ve got to keep going for as long as you can and keep enjoying the journey.
“We’ve both been on tour for a lot of years but you get goosebumps for how long you’ve been on tour and you still enjoy going to places and the grind of it.
“The day we stop enjoying it that is the day you’ve got to question it but right now we’ve still got the passion for it and we’re ready for another year to push for another great Aussie summer.”
AO Opening Week, presented by the Herald Sun, will feature charity matches, Australian Open qualifying, open practice, Kids Tennis Day and new events 1 Point Slam and Red Bull Bassline at Melbourne Park from January 6-11. Tickets start at $15 for adults and $10 for kids. The Australian Open main tournament is from January 12-26.
Originally published as VWeekend: ‘I still get goosebumps’: How tennis pair’s Olympic pipe dream became reality
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