Australian Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik has delivered a glowing endorsement of the nation’s emerging tennis talent, with Shellharbour’s Ellen Perez among the pick of the bunch.
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Speaking ahead of Australia’s Fed Cup tie with the Netherlands on the weekend, Molik praised the group of girls fighting hard to climb the WTA rankings and push for selection in the Australian team.
“A few players are really starting to break through,” Molik said. “Destanee Aiava, Jaimee Fourless, Ellen Perez, the more that age group has some success, it breeds success. There’s a number of girls, Lizette Cabrera, Priscilla Hon, Zoe Hives as well.
“I think sometimes what it takes is one of your own peers, someone that you know well, who has great results, and as a young Australian, you think ‘if she can do it, so can I’.”
Asked specifically about Perez, Molik said the 22-year-old has the talent to emerge out of the shadows in the next couple of years.
“Yes absolutely, she’s currently in Europe, she plays a really exciting game, Ellen Perez. She has a lot of weapons and she can do so much on the court. I think when she finds the fine line of how and when to use all the variety of the weapons she has, that’s when she’ll come into her own.”
While most juniors opt to make the leap to the professional tour, Perez took the less common pathway of playing for an American college to develop her game.
The Shellharbour junior attended Georgia University for three years, with a view to preparing both physically and mentally for the rigours of the professional tour.
Perez turned pro last winter after three years at Georgia and Molik strongly endorses the route she took.
“I think it was a great avenue for Ellen, coming out of college tennis. We’re seeing a bit more of that, seeing players come out of high school, go to college, get a little bit more grounded and still have the opportunity to play on pro-tour events.
“Now for Ellen, having turned professional, it’s been great for her, especially at her age too, where her body can now cope with full time tennis and travelling so much. I’ll next catch up and see her during the French Open.”
While Molik has been pleased by the competition outside the team, she has also been impressed with the competition within the squad. With four players capable of taking to the court for the opening singles rubbers, the women have been forced to elevate their game to earn a singles berth.
“We have four players of a really high standard who push each other on the practice court in points, sets and matches and that’s really healthy competition to have.
“No one’s guaranteed their spot on Saturday or Sunday, I think it’s a really good position to be in and it’s one the players know they have to earn and work for to be picked to play on Saturday and Sunday.
“We do have a lot of experience and we do have a lot of options. It’s a good thing because it allows us to manage the players, their loads and their bodies on the weekend, so we have that flexibility.”