As part of her research into internal medicine, Lizette Blankers will now play at the top of Dutch tennis

Lizette’s love for tennis is unique. Since she was discovered by the Dutch association at the age of seven, tennis has been part of her everyday life ever since. In 2018 she represented the university at the European University Games and played top tennis during her bachelor’s degree. But the promotion to the Eredivisie that she dreamed of came suddenly. Also because it is the first time since 2006 that a Rotterdam tennis team is competing in the top division. Nevertheless, she remains equally focused on her research work in medicine.

There are dozens of students at EUR who combine their sports career with their studies; However, the combination of elite sport and a doctorate is rare. Although her work in medicine is equally important, Lizette plans to play and compete whenever possible “until I’m 90 years old.” “I always dreamed of becoming a top player, but I always enjoyed combining tennis with something more intellectual. Combining the two was more difficult during my bachelor’s degree because I played more than I do now. But I think if you really want to, there’s always a way to play.”

During her bachelor’s and master’s years, Lizette’s elite sports status allowed for more flexibility in combining sports and studies. She also plays in Germany for the GHTC Mönchengladbach tennis club, where she competes in the second division. But now that she is fully immersed in her research work in the thyroid lab, flexibility and adjustments are required. “Once I had a patient consultation on Wednesday and on Thursday I was competing in Berlin. If I play on weekdays, I have to take a day off.”

Although she has played tennis most of her life and reached the Eredivisie, she has no career goals in the sport. Instead, she would like to complete her doctorate and continue to specialize in the field of internal medicine. In fact, the combination of the two helps her deal with the pressure on the court. “The pressure is great when you lose. For me it is always relaxing to know that I have a job. I always want to win and do my best, but when I lose it’s easier to deal with knowing there’s work the next day.”

Another factor that plays a role in Lizette’s pursuit of a career outside of tennis is the setting of the sport. In her opinion, only the 200 best players in the world can make a living from tennis. “It’s not like football, where you’re already at capacity when you play in the highest national competition. So in tennis it’s always nice to have a replacement. When I compete, I earn a nice bonus.”

“It will be tough, but we have to be prepared,” shares Lizette as she imagines how the Eredivisie games will unfold in May 2025. “It’s hard to compete with other players who play tennis as a full-time job. We didn’t expect to be able to compete at the top, but we’ve moved up and we’ll play as well as we can.”

No matter the challenges, playing at the highest level will prove beneficial as Lizette learns a lot from participating in the sport. “Some aspects of gaming can be transferred to work in the hospital,” she says. “I don’t worry too much if something goes wrong because there is always a way out. When there is stress in the emergency room, I can stay calm because I know from tennis how to deal with it.”