Interview with Doubles Star and Gay Ally Ellen Perez!!

Ellen Perez, one of the most electrifying doubles players on the WTA tour and a beloved gay ally, joins The Gay Tennis Podcast for a vibrant, candid conversation that blends tennis insight, personal storytelling, and playful banter. She opens up about her aggressive, showman-style game, her dynamic partnership with Demi Shores—highlighting their chemistry, net play, and even a strategic switch in court positioning that paid off in Indian Wells. Perez shares her deep connection to college tennis at UGA, where she found both athletic development and a backup plan for life beyond the sport, and reflects on the emotional weight of breaking up with doubles partners—calling it more like a relationship than a business decision. She passionately defends the importance of including more doubles teams in major tournaments, especially the US Open’s mixed doubles format, arguing that the new four-set scoring could be a bold step toward making doubles more exciting and accessible. From viral moments (including a bizarre Twitter DM about foot pictures) to her love of EDM, Jacob Elordi, and Survivor, Perez reveals herself as a joyful, authentic force on and off the court—proving that fun, honesty, and heart are just as vital as footwork in tennis.