4 February 2025 | Tennis West

West Aussie gold medalist Matt Ebden has been nominated for the SportWest WA Sports Star of the Year Award. 

Alongside fellow West Aussie John Peers, Ebden won the men’s doubles gold medal, the first time Australia had claimed Olympic tennis gold since 1996 in Atlanta. 

Ebden and Peers were also recently awarded Order of Australia medals on January 26. 

The gold medal in Paris capped off an incredible year that saw Ebden win the 2024 Australian Open doubles title and take his doubles ranking to world number one. 

Ebden also triumphed at the prestigious Masters 1000 event in Miami and played a pivotal role in Australia’s Davis Cup team, which returned to the final 8 for the third straight year. 

“To have won an Olympic gold medal, reached the world No.1 ranking, win a Grand Slam and a Masters has truly been a dream year,” Ebden said after being nominated for the Newcombe Medal. 

Ebden has also been nominated along with fellow doubles partner and West Aussie John Peers for the Sport West Team of the Year. 

It came as no surprise with the pair winning the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Doubles Gold Medal. 

WA up and coming tennis star Taylah Preston has been nominated for the Rebel Junior Sports Star of the Year. 

Preston has had another incredible year, receiving a wildcard into the 2024 Australian Open and US Open singles main draws. Preston also defeated world number 42 Magdalena Fręch to win her first Tour level match and her first against a player ranked in the WTA top 50. 

With almost 200 nominations to be celebrated, SportWest CEO Troy Kirkham said the WA Sport Awards continue to illustrate the integral role of sport in the lives of West Australians. 

“With the SportWest WA Sport Awards recognising so many unbelievable performances over the past year, we’re excited to celebrate these achievements. 

“It’s such a unique occasion on the WA sporting calendar to have community clubs, volunteers and administrators all honoured together in one special night alongside our high performing athletes, teams, coaches and officials.  The community plays such a vital role in the pathway to greatness, and the WA Sport Awards are an occasion where everyone comes together to celebrate the contributions and achievements at every level of sport”, said Mr Kirkham. 

The SportWest Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, February 6 at Optus Stadium.