Matt Ebden and John Peers are set to make history, having defeated the number three seeds Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul of the USA at Roland Garros in the Men’s Doubles semi-final.
The Aussie pair are on track to break a 28-year gold medal drought for Australia in Olympic Tennis.
The last time Australia topped the podium in Olympic tennis was at the 1996 Atlanta Games with the legendary doubles pair “The Woodies” Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde.
In a commanding performance on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, the duo defeated the American team in straight sets, securing their place in the finals. Matt and John showcased their superior teamwork and tactical prowess, winning 7-5, 6-2.
“We just kept pressing, creating the pressure. Then executed enough and maybe they felt that pressure. That was key, to stay on top of them,” Matt said.
The first set was tightly contested, with both pairs holding their serves consistently. The score progressed evenly with both teams exchanging games up to 5-5.
At 6-5, Matt and John capitalised on their break opportunities, securing the set with a score of 7-5.
The second set saw Matt and John elevate their game, taking an early lead and maintaining their momentum throughout.
The Australian pair dominated from the start, quickly advancing to a 4-0 lead. Fritz and Paul struggled to keep up, managing only two game wins in the set.
With a guaranteed medal, the doubles pair show no signs of slowing down.
“It's great to have a guarantee of a medal, but we know there's one more to go,” Matt said.
“Obviously we want to win; that's why we're here. So you've got to enjoy the moment, then focus on recovery and prepare to go again tomorrow.”
For Matt and John, the victorious moment was made even more special by a celebration shared with their children. John’s two daughters, Ellie and Harper, and Matt’s son, Harvey.
“I mean my girls especially wanted me to come home with a medal and now they're guaranteed one which is really something special,” John said.
“To be able to have friends and family here is just something we dream of.
“They (his daughters) were going to be staying up and talking about it in school and now they get to be here and live it. I hope they can remember this the rest of their life.”
Matt and John will advance to the gold medal match, where they will look to continue their impressive run in Paris.
This victory sets the stage for an exciting final on Saturday 3 August where they will face another American duo, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram (fourth seed).
Sarah Dyce
