Ebden started the week being heavily beaten by Novak DjokovicCredit: AFP
While Ebden had hoped to cause an upset, it wasn’t to be as Djokovic beat him 6-0 6-1 to send him crashing out of the tournament.
There is no shame in losing to someone with a record 24 grand slam titles, especially when singles is not your speciality.
It was Ebden’s first singles match in two years and the Aussie jokingly contemplated quitting midway through the match – offering a fan the opportunity to take his place.
Fast-forward seven days and the Australian has had the ultimate redemption as Ebden and partner John Peers claimed Olympic gold.
The Aussie duo faced Andy Murray and Dan Evans’ conquerors, Team US duo Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul in the semi-finals to set up a final with another American pair.
Facing Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek in the final at Roland Garros, Ebden and his partner Peers won 6-7 7-6 (10-8), roaring back from a set down to win the ultimate prize in Olympic doubles tennis.
“A few months ago I started thinking about this, it’s a bit strange as we both live down the road from each other, our wives are friends, the kids are friends,” Ebden said.
“He said ‘I would do anything to be at the Olympics again’, and that was all I needed to know.”
While never progressing past the third round in a grand slam singles event, Ebden is one of the world’s best on the doubles scene.
The 36-year-old won the mixed doubles title at the Australian Open in 2013, before reaching a series of finals in both mixed and men’s doubles.
The last two years have been particularly fruitful, with Ebden winning the men’s doubles title at Wimbledon 2022 with teammate Max Purcell, before claiming the men’s doubles crown at the Australian Open this year with Rohan Bopanna.
Adding his first-ever Olympic gold medal to his collection is a massive achievement for the Aussie, one that will no doubt leave him asking ‘Novak who?’
His partner, Peers, said: “As soon as Matt said, ‘do you want to play Olympics? Have you thought about going?’, [I said] ‘I’m doing anything I can to be there.
“I didn’t care what my ranking was going to be at, I’m doing everything I can’.”
