game, set, match

AS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S LEADING PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYERS, SHELLHARBOUR’S ELLEN PEREZ IS A STAR ON THE RISE FOLLOWING A MOMENTOUS YEAR, INCLUDING WIMBLEDON AND THE OLYMPICS

Words Penny Keogh @oursliceofpie Images Olivier Rachon Photography ollieozphoto.com

“It was ridiculous the amount of people at the Olympics from the Illawarra and south coast,” Ellen Perez mentions proudly as she recounts her Tokyo Olympic experience. “Anyone can achieve. I think I really saw that at the Olympics.” The words, of course, inspire hope that hard work and tenacity will get you there. That is profoundly evident in Ellen’s success in 2021 –the 26-year-old from Shellharbour is now in the best form of her nine-year career, which some might say has been a long time coming.

This past year saw Ellen break into the top 200 of women’s tennis players worldwide to achieve her best rankings to date - 162nd in singles and 34th in doubles. Ellen has also achieved centrecourt prominence in some of Australia’s most inspiring recent sporting moments.

First it was in June, where Ellen qualified in her first Grand Slam with a main draw spot in Wimbledon. Then it was off to Tokyo in August where Aussie hearts were lifted in Ellen’s doubles pairing with Sam Stoser in the quarter finals. Ellen also represented Australia in November, making her debut in the semifinals at the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague.

Ellen’s charming modesty and delightful ease in sharing her experiences, though, make it hard not to suspect that beyond determination alone there might be something innately unique behind her phenomenal sporting success.

Ellen credits almost everyone but herself for these highlights, with her coastal upbringing featuring highly among those things which have most influenced her character.

“I love the south coast surfer vibe,” says Ellen. “Nothing really bothers me too much. I’m easy-going. I think that’s part of it. I started off at Oak FlatsTennis Club when I was seven, where I trained in the group squad under Alex Pero. After a while I moved to Albion Park RailTennis Club because they had hard courts, not synthetic courts, and I had a great coach in Brett Edwards, who was a big influence in my tennis. I’ve enjoyed going back a few times to do a bit of coaching with the kids and give out a few racquets.” Family sporting interests also proved influential, although like many kids starting out, Ellen acknowledges some reluctance to take the path offered.

“My mum played softball for NSW, so she loved sport. Dad played social tennis and wanted me to do tennis. I wouldn’t say I loved it. I’d much rather play soccer back then,” says Ellen. “As I developed with it, I liked it more.At first I was following my dad's dream and now it’s really mine.

By the time she was 14, Ellen had won at nationals for her age and had been spotted by Tennis Australia for their pathways program. Through that program, at 16, Ellen moved to the heart of Australian tennis in Melbourne, before heading on scholarship to the USA’s University of Georgia. “It’s just like the movies,” explains Ellen fondly of her time in the States.“Huge budgets, the best equipment and huge crowds.”

Turning pro in her final year, Ellen’s upward trajectory since then has fulfilled a prophecy predicted by even Ellen’s primary school pals.

“When I got toTokyo, I remembered back when I was inYear 10 at the school formal, I was voted the most likely to go to the Olympics. I never forgot that,” Ellen recalls with a sense of pride and nostalgia. “The Olympics is like a big sporting

“You have those dreams and set yourself goals. Then you have moments like that at competition and see that hard work pays off. It’s a big motivator”

family and finally I got to go there. It was surreal to mix it with some of the best in the world. All the Aussie athletes were in the same building. We were all swapping stories. I got on with the Aussie taekwondo girls and the boxers.”

Topping off the year was an against-the-odds success at the Billie Jean King Cup, the premier international team women’s tennis competition and counterpart to the men’s Davis Cup.

“We were the underdogs. We didn’t go in there with our best team.Ash [Barty] and Sam [Stoser] were staying home,” says Ellen, allowing herself a moment of satisfaction at the achievement. “We beat some great teams and made it through to the semifinals.” Reflecting on the almost nine months on the road, Ellen considers that it has been a mix of good mates and personal drive that has helped her through.

“You have those dreams and set yourself goals. Then you have moments like that at competition and see that hard work pays off. It’s a big motivator,” says Ellen.“I have a competitive nature and don’t want to fall behind. It’s easy for me to get active, for most part. It takes a big family though to do well. I think for me, having a travel buddy in Storm Sanders has helped when you’re on the road for so long. We hired a coach together. We get along so well.”

Keen to capitalise on the enthusiasm and success of the year that’s been, Ellen turns her thoughts to the future in the context of a surging momentum in Australian women’s tennis.

“We’re hungrier than ever to get to Paris Olympics in 2024,” Ellen says.“Australian tennis is going great. Before we had one in the top 100, we now have 15 in the top 250.And, of course, Ash Barty is doing such big things in tennis. It was so exciting to see her win the Australian Open. A lot of people are getting down to the tennis courts again. It’s great to have that environment around you.” ¡