- Woodforde was moved to tears witnessing the Australian victory
- Peers and Ebden secured a dramatic tiebreaker win in doubles
- It’s Australia’s only gold medal in the event since The Woodies’ triumph in 1996
Mark Woodforde shared his emotional response upon witnessing John Peers and Matt Ebden emerge as the new Olympic champions for Australia in tennis at Roland Garros.
Woodforde, who formed part of the legendary ‘Woodies’ alongside Todd Woodbridge, the only Australians to ever win Olympic tennis gold 28 years ago in Atlanta, expressed that watching the veteran doubles pair triumph on Saturday felt like a personal victory.
Despite needing to maintain neutrality in his role as an International Tennis Federation vice-president, Woodforde couldn’t contain his joy, especially when he learned he would be presenting medals to another Australian duo.
Following their nail-biting gold-medal match victory against Americans Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek, Peers and Ebden, who are long-time friends living just streets apart in Perth, expressed their deep admiration for the ‘Woodies.’
They credited the legendary duo as a vital source of inspiration, with Peers stating, ‘They paved the way and set the bar so high, it’s just disbelief I’m in the same category. For me, it’s an absolute honor to be mentioned alongside them.’
However, Woodforde, now 58, felt that the honor was wholly his. ‘I feel like I’m on top of the world, I feel like I’ve won, just by watching them,’ remarked the 17-time Grand Slam doubles champion.
‘Todd and I completely understand the challenges Matt and John faced this week. It’s a battle for survival. Winning such a tight match and then standing on that podium to see your flag raised is the cherry on top.
‘I saw them just before we took the stage for the ceremony. I genuinely felt emotional and it brought tears to my eyes.’
Australia achieved its first gold medal in men’s doubles since 1996, with Matt Ebden and John Peers victorious in a thrilling match.
Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde captured gold in Atlanta.
‘Rajiv and Austin were competing alongside us, so I wanted to be respectful of their feelings; it’s heartbreaking for them to come in second. Nonetheless, it was a deeply emotional moment for me.’
‘I’m thrilled for Todd and myself to now have other gold medallists to share in the Olympic spirit.’
‘As I approached Matt and John during the ceremony, I felt a lump in my throat. All I could express was, ‘this moment is utterly unforgettable.’
Meanwhile, as they prepared for a raucous celebration, Ebden and Peers were asked about the possibility of playing together more frequently.
‘He just needs to ask,’ Peers said with a laugh, referencing his history of various playing partners, while Ebden recently reached No. 1 in the world playing with his consistent partner, India’s ageless Rohan Bopanna.
‘It’s definitely on the table,’ Ebden added, mentioning they had considered teaming up before. ‘Logistically it hasn’t worked out, but if there’s ever a need for us in the Davis Cup or when we’re searching for partners in tournaments, we know we play exceptionally well together.’
