WA’s very own Wimbledon doubles champion Matt Ebden is among 10 elite Australian athletes vying for the Sports Dad of the Year award to be announced on Father’s Day on Sunday, 4 September.
Now in its 14th year, the award showcases the contribution Australia’s sporting elite make to their families both on and off the court. The Sports Dad of the Year will highlight 10 elite athletes across a range of sports, giving insights into how they juggle fatherhood with their sporting commitments. The winning Sports Dad of the Year will receive $5,000 to donate to their charity of choice.
Matt and his wife Kim welcomed adorable son Harvey in February this year and are embracing the new challenge of parenthood. When he’s not on court, Matt is studying a Commerce Degree.
“Almost every day or week since he was born has been special in its own way,” Matt said.
“All the little things along the way and their growth happens so fast. A few memorable pictures and experiences with having him in Rome, Paris, around Europe and then at Wimbledon are extra special of course.
“I thought I had reasonably good perspective on things before we had him but he’s taken it to a whole new level!”
Baby Harvey has already experienced a lot of first as the family travelled around Europe for two months ahead of Matt’s appearance at Wimbledon in June.
Matt’s wife Kim said Matt is a doting and hands on dad and takes so much joy in spending time with Harvey.
“Matt is a really caring and attentive dad, and he takes a lot of joy in the small moments and details – an expression on Harvey’s face, a new sound he makes, how he grows each week,” Kim said.
“He just loves being Harvey’s dad!”
This years other finalists are NRL stars Daley Cherry-Evans, Damien Cook and James Tamou, AFL champion Scott Pendlebury, Socceroo goalkeeping hero Andrew Redmayne, Test cricket superstar Usman Khawaja, Wallaby scrum half Nic White, Australian Boomers skipper Mitch McCarron and three-time Golden Slipper winning jockey Tommy Berry.
Vote now for Matt at sportsdads.com.au
Voting closes on Tuesday, 30 August and the Sports Dad of the Year winner will be announced on Father’s Day.
Hear more from Matt about his first time as a father and the tough balancing act of parenthood and a sporting career:
Do you find it hard spending time away from the family due to your tennis commitments and how do you keep in contact?
Incredibly hard. It tears me apart more than anything. The first couple of times when Harvey was just 5 weeks old I had to fly to the US. To have to kiss him goodbye while he’s going to sleep in his cot was one of the hardest things ever and it definitely left me very teary.
Lucky Kim is so good to me and makes sure we video call everyday as much as possible, and she keeps a running daily diary of a pic or video so I can keep watch of him.
How big an inspiration is Harvey to your career, have you changed the way you go about your work since he was born?
He has changed me for sure. I find it hard to put into exact words or describe it. I love him so much. He’s adorable.
Congratulations on your Wimbledon victory – was Harvey and the family part of that special moment?
Absolutely. Kim was to and from the Wimbledon creche who kindly helped watch him now and then during some of the matches. My mother was also with us for a month helping Kim and Harvey so that made it all the more possible too. To be able to have Kim and Harvey there was something I’ll never forget. Even late after the match and press conference he was awake for celebrations late into the night and we got some nice pics of the three of us with the Wimbledon trophy.
On competition day, do you usually relax with the family and do you have a set routine?
Routine mainly. Sometimes it’s hard I have to maybe leave early and go and get organised and prepared and Kim does an amazing job looking after Harvey and maybe bringing him into the tennis later in the day to watch when I play.
He’s only young but does he enjoy watching you play?
Funny enough, since the first match he watched my singles in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, he just quietly sat on Kim’s lap and stared at me on the court. He sat still and quiet for quite a long time and just seemed to really enjoy it and focus on it. Maybe it’s a good sign that he likes tennis already, we will see!
Tell us about your daily family duties?
When I’m home I try to do as much as I can. Nappies. Bottle feeds. Baths. Settling him in the night. Watch him in the day time so Kim can go out and have some freedom or get out to the shops or meet up with a friend. I really love doing it as the more time I get to spend with him the better, the time is precious.
What’s the best thing about being a dad?
The whole experience. Having another little mini human beside you on the couch or in the house or to cuddle is very special and hard to believe sometimes. It’s true when they say you can’t really comprehend how it is until you have children yourself. It’s a very surreal and innate experience. It’s definitely also very challenging and I have the most incredible respect and admiration for all the mothers out there and everything that goes into having children.
Tell us about your wife Kim?
I describe her as an angel. I’m very blessed to have found her and have twp angel women in my life, the other being my mother. Kim has been there basically every step of the way since we first started dating at 19 years old! And now we have been married coming up 10 years in November! She deserves a very special anniversary this year and every year. Now as a mother she is doing such a great job in sometimes difficult circumstances with travel or if I’m away travelling.
What is your favourite activity with Harvey?
Because he’s only 6 months old, just the very simple things. Feeding him his bottle while he sucks on it is very cute. Playing with him in the bed and making him smile and laugh is the best. Also, taking him around and showing him new things and places is very fun, you watch his eyes gaze and take it all in. He’s quite a well-travelled baby already and he seems to enjoy seeing a lot and really loves people.
Have you been able to take the family on any recent holidays? Is there a place you’d like to go in the future?
Harvey travelled with us for 2 months through till Wimbledon. We had some fun times and places we visited so we did plenty of fun things. We love going down south of Perth for holidays to the Margaret River region, so we are definitely looking forward to showing him around down there.
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