- John Peers and Matt Ebden clinched gold in Paris
- Peers’ daughter Ellie captivated the crowd from the stands
- Australia’s first Olympic doubles gold in 28 years
John Peers and Matt Ebden have made history for Australian tennis at Roland Garros, with Peers’ daughter Ellie giving heartfelt support from the crowd.
The experienced duo, both 36 and unseeded, secured an impressive late-career triumph by defeating American fourth seeds Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-1) [10-8] in a gripping gold medal match on Saturday.
They are the first Australian doubles players to win gold since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Peers and Ebden have amassed numerous titles throughout their careers, including grand slams, yet this moment stands out as unparalleled.
Their families were present to celebrate the victory with them on Court Philippe Chatrier, one of tennis’s premier venues, after a thrilling contest that featured three tie-breaks.
A heartwarming clip of seven-year-old Ellie in the stands, anxiously crossing her fingers, went viral, resonating with viewers.
‘What an exhilarating match! These two truly shined. John Peers’ daughter brought a tear to my eye,’ one Twitter user commented.
‘That adorable little girl was crossing her fingers, silently cheering for her dad to win gold. Just beautiful,’ another added.
Australia claimed its first gold medal in men’s doubles since 1996 with Matt Ebden and John Peers winning a thrilling encounter
Peers’ daughter Ellie (pictured) captured the hearts of those watching at home
‘John Peers’ daughters are so adorable,’ remarked a third user.
When asked if this was his greatest tennis achievement, Ebden grinned: ‘It very well could be. We’ve won slams, been finalists in the Davis Cup, but the Olympics? A gold medal? That’s something else.’
‘It’s such a rare opportunity, only occurring every four years. Just to participate is extraordinary, but to earn a gold medal? That’s like a fairy tale. It’s beyond belief.’
Sharing this special moment with Peers, a close friend from Melbourne now residing nearby in Perth, made the victory even more meaningful for both families.
Ellie was nervous with fingers crossed watching her dad from the stands
Peers said he hopes he can inspire his daughters to dream big
‘It feels like a miracle to have brought a gold medal to our neighborhood,’ exclaimed Ebden joyfully.
The children were invited onto the court afterward to join in the celebration, with Peers expressing his hope to inspire his daughters.
‘As a child, I looked up to all the Australian athletes, no matter the sport – whether it was the Olympics, the Boxing Day Test, or footy. I loved sports and dreamed about making my mark,’ Peers reflected.
‘I hope to instill that dream in my daughters, encouraging them to aim high, as there are no limits to what they can achieve. They can accomplish anything they set their minds to.’
