Matthew Ebden enjoyed a dream run at the Australian Open with partner Max Purcell, soaring to the men’s doubles final in Melbourne.
However, while Ebden’s success at the first major of the season will go down as a career highlight, it left the 34-year-old in a spot of trouble as he was suddenly faced with missing the birth of his first child.
Following the championship match on 29 January, the Australian needed to return to Perth to be with his wife Kim, who was expecting their first child imminently. But with Covid-19 protocols in place in his home city in the state of western Australia, Ebden was forced to undertake a 14-day quarantine period by himself, leaving his return in jeopardy.
Photo Credit: Niki Spencer
Thankfully, the four-time tour-level doubles titlist arrived in time to welcome baby boy Harvey Matthew Ebden into the world on 15 February.
“[It was] quite surreal, and then all of a sudden you just go to loving him and caring for him instantly,” Ebden told ATPTour.com on the birth of his child.
Photo Credit: Niki Spencer
Ebden is aiming to return to the Tour at the Miami Open presented by Itau at the end of March and is planning on Kim and Harvey travelling with him by the middle of the year.