Ellen Perez, the rising Australian tennis star, has been making waves on the WTA Tour since her debut in March 2012. Meanwhile, Perez’s 2024 season looked like: reaching the 13th position in the WTA rankings and clinching titles at Bad Homburg and San Diego with partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez. Now, she is making some significant changes to her team. One that concerns Serena Williams’ ex coach, Rennae Stubbs.

Perez and Melichar-Martinez qualified for the WTA Finals after a stellar season. Although they captured titles at two events, they also reached finals at the Ningbo Open, Catalonia Open, and Charleston Open. This showcases their talent and Perez’s growing prowess on the court. Additionally, they competed at the Paris Olympics, where they faced off against Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. While the match didn’t go their way, Perez was thrilled to fulfill her dream of participating in the Olympics. Heading into 2025, Perez is ready to bring the heat.

Recently on her podcast, Rennae Stubbs revealed her plans for any coaching talks in 2025. She said, “I will be helping out Ellen Perez in the little doubles stuff. I’m gonna help her out at the start of the year.” With an impressive tally of seven WTA Tour doubles titles and two WTA 125 doubles titles under her belt, she made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2016 Australian Open alongside Belinda Woolcock. While Stubbs isn’t taking on a full coaching role, her experience will be invaluable for Perez as she aims for greater success.

Stubbs has an impressive background, having worked with top players like Serena Williams and Genie Bouchard. With six Grand Slam titles to her name—four in doubles and two in mixed doubles—her resume speaks for itself. Stubbs also represented Australia in four consecutive Olympic Games, showcasing her dedication to the sport. This expertise could be exactly what Perez needs to elevate her game and secure more titles in the upcoming season.

Australian doubles champ shares her training routine

Despite advancing to the semifinals in several tournaments this year, including the WTA Finals, Ningbo Open, Cincinnati Open, and Charleston Open, she faced tough losses, showcasing her competitive spirit. Which is where the strategic planning of practice session comes in! Earlier in March, Perez shared insights into her training routine with Tennis.com. Revealing her favorite practice times and what aspects of her game she enjoys working on the most.

She confidently stated, “Definitely morning – 10 or 11 o’clock is the prime time.” This routine helps her avoid the lethargy that can come from waiting around. One of her favorite aspects of the game is working on her volleys. However, she admits to neglecting her serve, explaining, “It’s the part that’s a bit more slow and mundane. It requires a lot of repetition work.”

Structuring her practice sessions depends on the time of year and upcoming competitions. “In preseason, it’s a lot of drilling and repetition with a focus on volume,” she noted. Throughout the year, Perez regularly practices with her doubles partner Nicole Melichar-Martinez, with whom she won two titles this year. Their impressive performance at Bad Homburg stands out, where they triumphed over Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova with a nail-biting score of 4-6, 6-3, 10-8. While they often train together, Perez also dedicates time to work alone with her coach when needed.

Perhaps this is where Rennae Stubbs will join in with her current team that includes coach David Taylor and fitness trainer Gabriel Echevarria. So what Perez will bring to the court in the upcoming season? Perhaps even more major titles? Share your thoughts in the comments below.