The Ellison Sisters are "The Real Tennis Players of Orange County"

If there was ever a reality show featuring tennis players it would surely include the Ellison Sisters, Roxanne and Sierra of Orange County, CA.

The Daily Forehand caught up with these two sisters who were competing this week in the Norman Wilkerson Memorial Tournament, a USTA Women's Pro Circuit event held outside of Atlanta.

While most people mistake these two six-foot blondes for twins, Roxanne is actually one year older, but they both have one more year left to play college tennis at San Diego State.

As juniors they were the #1 ranked doubles team in the country and now as collegians they are two-time Mountain West All-Conference selections. We talked about the sport they love, playing doubles as sisters and a certain reality show that is filmed in the community where they live.

As good as they are on the court, they are even nicer and more accommodating off the court. A pro tennis career is in their near future, but as the years go on, the sky is the limit for these two in whatever they decide to do.

The Daily Forehand:  How were you both introduced to the game of tennis, and did you immediately like it?

Roxanne: We were introduced to tennis when we were two and three. Our parents wanted to get us involved in sports at a young age.

Sierra: I enjoyed tennis when I was really young but I was also such a free spirited kid, I wanted to try everything. My parents were the ones to really helped me stay focused and committed to playing. I didn’t really learn to love the sport until I was in college. Now I can’t live without it.

The Daily Forehand:  You have had a lot of success playing doubles, do you think that might be your avenue to a pro career as there are players who are so-called doubles specialists earning a living on the tour?

Sierra: After graduating from college we intend to make a serious go of it on the pro tour. We enjoy singles but doubles is what some people say we were made for.

Roxanne: Sierra’s a lefty and I’m a righty which helps to create a strong force on the doubles court combined with our attacking serve and volley style of game and over all presence.

Sierra: We like to put on a show for the crowd.

The Daily Forehand: We all know about the success the Bryan Brothers have had over the past 10-15 years. They sometimes talk about having the ability to communicate without talking on the court since they are twins. You aren't twins, but can you relate to that sixth sense on the court together.

Sierra: Definitely, I think that is the main reason we have had so much success in doubles. We understand each other, we know how the other thinks. It really makes it that much more exciting when you are out there, you always feel like your bestfriend’s got your back.

The Daily Forehand:  You grew up in a famous development where The Real Housewives of Orange County takes place. Can you relate to what happens on that show, and do you know my two favorite people on the show Vicki and Jeanna?

Roxanne: Our lives aren’t filled with quite as much drama as what the women on that show have to go through. We are more focused on getting through a third set tie-breaker, but we do in fact bump into some of the different housewives at restaurants around town or at the tennis club and they have been very supportive of our tennis.

The Daily Forehand: What are your goals for the next year or two as you both wind down on your college career?

Roxanne: We have very big goals and are passionate about our pursuits in tennis, entertainment, and business. We hope to make a significant mark on the professional tennis tour and follow up our recent web-TV series with possible projects that will include: a reality show, a network talk show, and/or some hosting work for the 2012 Olympic games. We have also developed a product line, which we hope to take to market in the very near future. As well as get our degrees of course.

The Daily Forehand:  What is your favorite aspect of playing college tennis?

Sierra: I love having the amazing opportunity to go to school and play on a team at the same time. We are always having a blast, working hard, and learning important lessons every step of the way. It’s a great way to grow not only as a tennis player but as a person. San Diego State has been a wonderful school and I don’t know how we would have made this far without our coach Peter Mattera.

The Daily Forehand:  We all want to know, do you ever fight, and if you do what was the last big one about?

Sierra: Being sisters, we do have our little squabbles just like any other siblings, but it is rare. The funny thing is that when we do, it usually lasts about three minutes and ends with us laughing our heads off. Its just who we are.

Roxanne: I think our last one might have been about what to get for dinner. We have very different taste buds.

Best of luck in the future to the Ellison Sisters. You can follow their progress at www.theellisonsisters.com