Australia Triumphs: Matt Ebden and John Peers Clinch Historic Men’s Doubles Victory

The Australians faced Americans Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, who were trying to become the third U.S. duo to win a men’s doubles gold.

PARIS, France — In an electrifying finale on Saturday, Matt Ebden and John Peers clinched Australia’s second-ever Olympic gold medal in tennis. They defeated the American pair, Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram, in a thrilling men’s doubles match at the 2024 Paris Games. The final score read 6-7 (6), 7-6 (1), 10-8.

The Olympic doubles format used a first-to-10, win-by-two tiebreaker instead of a traditional third set.

Trailing by a set and 4-2 in the second, Ebden and Peers initiated their comeback by breaking Ram’s serve. This gold win marks the first for Australian tennis since 1996, when Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde won in Atlanta.

Ebden made headlines earlier at these Games by stepping in for singles matches, notably losing to Novak Djokovic 6-0, 6-1. Djokovic later expressed concerns about a doubles specialist like Ebden competing in singles.

After Saturday’s victory, emotional scenes unfolded as the children of Peers and Ebden joined their fathers on the court. Ebden ceremoniously placed a replica gold medal around his son’s neck, lifting him joyfully into the air.

Meanwhile, Rajeev Ram, a 40-year-old from Indiana, was aiming to become the oldest Olympic tennis gold medalist since the sport’s reintroduction in 1988. Alongside Krajicek, a 34-year-old based in Florida, they sought to become the third U.S. team to capture the men’s doubles gold, the last being Bob and Mike Bryan in 2012.

Ultimately, Ram and Krajicek secured the silver. Their journey included a significant win over Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Later on Saturday, another U.S. pair, Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul, were set to compete for bronze against the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek.

Both Ram and Krajicek have attained the No. 1 ranking in doubles. Ram boasts four Grand Slam men’s doubles titles and additional mixed doubles championships. Krajicek has one men’s doubles Slam to his name.

Ebden has reached as high as No. 2 in doubles, winning both men’s and mixed doubles Slam titles. Peers, another Olympic veteran, has previously claimed a bronze in mixed doubles with Ash Barty at the Tokyo Games and has held the No. 1 doubles ranking, securing a Grand Slam title by defeating the Bryans at the 2017 Australian Open.