Veterans Matt Ebden and John Peers, who have always been on top of their age, have won an unexpected gold medal, becoming Australia’s second Olympic tennis champions.
The two unseeded 36-year-olds, who have long been mainstays of the doubles scene, enjoyed a career-high moment by beating 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 tight victory in the men’s doubles at Roland Garros on Saturday.
They became Australia’s only Olympic tennis gold medallists after ‘The Woodies’ Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde lifted the 1996 title at the same event.
Between them, the Australian pair have won plenty of titles, but they never had a moment like this, with their wives and children present on Court Philippe Chatrier, one of the world’s great tennis amphitheatres, to watch their finest moment as they prevailed in three tie-breaks after the most entertaining of finals.
A three-setter earned Matthew Ebden and John Peers a thrilling victory in the men’s doubles at Roland Garros on Saturday.
Team Australia celebrate match point during the men’s doubles tennis gold medal match against Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram of Team USA on day eight of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games