Practice with Ellen Perez: “It’s all the time good to have a goal in thoughts” | 8 March, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Prime-10 doubles star Ellen Perez reveals the significance of setting targets in each single apply session in our “Practice with the professionals” collection.

Melbourne, Australia, 8 March 2024 | Leigh Rogers

Ellen Perez has made a promising begin to the 2024 season, successful her greatest profession doubles title and peaking at a brand new career-high rating of world No.8.

In our Practice with the Execs collection, the 28-year-old remembers her most memorable apply periods and shares recommendation on the way to enhance your sport.

Do you have got a favorite time of day to apply?

Positively morning – 10 or 11 o’clock is the prime time. It permits me a bit of little bit of a sleep in, but in addition means you may get your coaching carried out with and really feel such as you’ve completed one thing early. I hate ready round and feeling such as you’re drained and torpid all through the day.

What’s the favorite a part of your sport to work on?

I really actually get pleasure from engaged on my volleys. I feel it’s a type of components that once I was enjoying a variety of singles, I didn’t do as a lot of, and now that I’m transitioning into doubles extra, I feel it’s the enjoyable half. It’s the place you may get artistic. It requires a little bit of ability and good response instances.

Do you have got a least favorite a part of your sport to work on?

I feel I neglect serving a bit of bit. It’s the half that’s a bit extra sluggish and mundane. It requires a variety of repetition work and I’m somebody that likes to be consistently attempting one thing totally different and doing one thing that’s enjoyable or thrilling.

How do you prefer to construction your apply periods?

It will depend on the time of the yr and what’s developing. In preseason, it’s a variety of drilling and repetition with a concentrate on quantity. Proper earlier than a contest, it’s a variety of level play to really feel such as you’ve practised precisely what’s about to occur in a match state of affairs.

Do you attempt to apply together with your doubles associate as a lot as doable?

All year long once we’re at tournaments, I’m all the time practising with Nicole (Melichar-Martinez). There may be some periods the place I do it alone with my coach if I must work on some particular issues. But when we’re hitting with one other crew, we all the time do it collectively.

Are you able to keep in mind the primary skilled participant you had the chance to coach with?

My first prime participant would have been Sam Stosur. I keep in mind she had simply gained the US Open and I feel she was No.4 on the time. I used to be 14 and coaching in Sydney, and obtained the chance via Dave Taylor (Sam’s coach on the time). I keep in mind it being the best factor ever and one of the crucial wonderful experiences. It’s one thing I’ve all the time remembered.

What was the largest takeaway from that have for you?

I keep in mind idolising Sam’s kick serve and that was one thing I used to be taught to do too. I keep in mind having that second once I was in a position to present her my kick serve, and she or he was tremendous impressed with it. Not a variety of women are in a position to do it and it was a component of her sport I wished to emulate. To have the ability to present her mine and likewise return her kick serve, that was so thrilling.

Are there another apply periods that stand out as memorable?

I’ve practised with a variety of the top-ranked gamers. I’m actually good associates with Ons Jabeur and I’ve performed a bunch of doubles along with her, so carried out just a few apply periods along with her. They’re all the time enjoyable and lightweight.

In the event you may practise with anybody from tennis historical past, who would it not be and why?

Justine Henin. She was somebody who I idolised rising up and she or he’s one of many few stars who hasn’t come again. I additionally actually idolised Kim Clijsters and I really obtained to hit along with her. Hitting with Kim was actually cool. I feel her ball placing was one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than in comparison with another participant. She simply hit it so deep and so huge.

What recommendation would you share with an aspiring participant to get probably the most out of a apply session?

I feel it’s all the time good to have a goal in thoughts and one thing you need to obtain in each session. In the event you don’t go in with one thing you’re engaged on and eager to get out of it, then you may get misplaced within the session a bit of bit. It’s additionally good to concentrate on getting one per cent higher, moderately than being consumed within the long-term outcomes.

In the event you had 5 minutes remaining in a apply session and will do something you would like, what would you select and why?

I’d in all probability play a sport. I actually get pleasure from ‘Ammunition’. It’s performed with 4 gamers on the court docket, all beginning on the baseline. Then whoever wins the purpose, will get to go to the online and feed from the online. In the event you win the subsequent level, you lastly get on the board. You’ll be able to solely win a degree from the online, so for those who lose, you must retreat, and the opposite crew will get to come back ahead. It’s actually quick and enjoyable, you’re all the time scrambling to get balls and persons are feeding when no-one is prepared. It’s a extremely interactive method to practise your doubles.

> READ MORE: From our “Practice with the professionals” collection

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