Baby blues for WA tennis star Matt Ebden after McGowan’s border backflip

He is hours away from the biggest moment of his sporting career in Melbourne but Matt Ebden will likely miss another life-changing event: the birth of his baby son back home in Perth.
The 34-year-old plays in tomorrow evening’s much-hyped Australian Open doubles final with partner Max Purcell against fellow Aussies Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis but is likely to miss the birth, due February 14.
“I have a baby due in about two weeks so I’m skating on thin ice… this final means I’ll likely miss the birth of my baby now because the border rules changed,” the devastated West Aussie told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.
“It’s terrible. I left my wife about eight months pregnant, knowing I could come back on the 5th of February.”
Ebden didn’t expect special treatment but remained hopeful of a positive outcome on compassionate grounds.
“Obviously the border rules changed last week since I’ve been here and, yeah, my wife’s not very happy… same as many other Australians out there missing their families, loved ones, births, funerals,” he said.
“It’s just horrible … I’m on the first flight out on Sunday but have to go into hotel and home quarantine and potentially miss the birth, which is terrible.”
Tap PLAY below to hear more of Ebden’s chat with Gareth Parker.