In a first-person exclusive, ELLEN PEREZ shares insights on her successful first quarter of 2023 and reveals how Sam Stosur has helped her prepare for the clay-court swing.
Australia, 15 April 2023 | Ellen Perez
This year so far has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but that’s pretty much tennis summed up.
All it takes is one or two good weeks to get us back on track or even have a stellar season. I’ve been able to travel to some incredible tournaments but didn’t get any great results until American tournaments, where I reached the Austin doubles final and Miami semis with Nicole Melichar-Martinez.
In the Middle East I felt like I was playing some good tennis. Every match we lost we won more points than our opponents, but just couldn’t be clutch or even lucky on a few big points. I feel like our bad luck or lack of taking opportunities was due to end at some point and that’s exactly what happened in Miami where we got through some tough ones, saved some match points and were able to have a good run.
Only four months in, and I feel like I’ve learnt a fair bit about how crucial it is to play the big moments well. It really is the difference between making and breaking it.
Ellen Perez in action.
Before that, I actually had an unreal schedule, playing some of the nicest tournaments in the nicest places on this trip.
Starting in Hua Hin, Thailand, was amazing and honestly it could be one of my favourite tournaments of the year. The food is so cheap and amazing, the hotel is really nice, the courts have an awesome gym and the courts were pink! The weather was great, the beach was nearby – there was even a waterpark in our hotel. Just everything about that week is great.
The Middle East is always a luxury style trip. The breakfast buffets are grand, and the hotels are super nice. Then Austin was such a cool American city. So much to do and got to experience my first Texas BBQ. Lastly, the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) is hands down one of the best months on tour for tennis.
A picturesque stop in the Middle East.
In Austin, I stayed with a housing family. It’s very rare at a WTA event for opportunities arise to stay elsewhere than the player hotel. But I had a really nice family who took me in for the week and it made that week feel very homey. It’s nice to reset and not feel like you’re doing the same mundane schedule. The crowd and atmosphere in Austin were also electric. Such a great turnout of…
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