I handle my racquet with assurance and accuracy. It whips through the atmosphere as an extension of my dominant hand. My feet adjust slightly; I foresee the need to shift my body for the upcoming move. I perform the action flawlessly. No, I’m not in the middle of a medical intervention: I’m on the tennis court. My spouse had been motivating me to pursue tennis for some time, but I could never manage to carve out the time. As a clinical urologist with a full-time role and a child in elementary school, fitting it into my routine proved challenging. But earlier this summer, I finally carved out some time and started taking lessons with a coach. During the initial weeks, picking up tennis brought to mind the enjoyable aspects of residency (thankfully no 5 a.m. shifts or difficult supervisors). Just like in my intern year, I began with the fundamentals. There are various grip techniques, stroke actions, and primary footwork abilities that must be mastered to advance in skill level. Similarly to training, the foundational elements build upon each other as you gain confidence in the basics. I’ve since honed my ground-strokes, incorporated strategy into my play, and learned how to serve.

I’ve perceived numerous parallels between tennis and medicine. First, engaging in tennis is similar to carrying out procedures, as it requires mastering a set of repetitive yet subtly varied motions, then implementing them via muscle memory. Variations in grip, stroke action, swing trajectory, and foot positioning can lead to an endless array of potential outcomes, and recognizing when to apply these techniques can be extremely rewarding. Moreover, on both the tennis court and in a medical environment, there are several situations you need to learn to prepare for. It’s crucial in both contexts to understand which tools and methods to apply when necessary. For instance, when faced with a “drop” shot (which lands near mid-court on your side of the net), you must know how to sprint to the ball, strike it within the court’s boundaries, and continue moving to set up your subsequent shot. This mirrors encountering unexpected anatomy or unusual lab results and needing to know how to adjust to continue effectively treating the patient. It can also be incredibly satisfying to nail a “winner,” a shot where your opponent fails to hit the ball with their racket at all. As physicians, we all recognize the instant dopamine rush of a well-executed surgical maneuver or a successful medication trial. Lastly, tennis is delightfully social, enhancing our physical and mental health. After a long day in the clinic or operating room, it can be refreshing to be among non-medical individuals, get some exercise, and discuss non-medical subjects.

Tennis differs from medicine in certain respects, but these aspects remain advantageous to us as doctors and athletes. Firstly, in tennis, the stakes are significantly lower than in medicine, alleviating stress from the equation. In a high-pressure environment, if there is a technical mistake that is irreversible and potentially harmful to the patient, it can be quite distressing for the doctor and could also lead to an unfortunate complication. When playing tennis, there will always be another opportunity to win: another ball, another point to compete for, or another game. Additionally, in tennis, it’s reassuring to acknowledge that even professionals fail at times, hitting the ball into the net or out of bounds, and they can still achieve success. In fact, a degree of imperfection is anticipated. Conversely, as physicians, we often aim for perfection in nearly every part of our patient interactions, knowing how a single unsatisfactory patient experience can impact our practice. Tennis is the opposite of this: A lone mistake is unlikely to completely tarnish our tennis reputation.

Undoubtedly, I’ve become somewhat enamored with tennis, seeking out early morning and evening sessions that fit within my work commitments, and scheduling pro sessions on weekends. We work diligently in medicine, and during our downtime, we should seek joy. For me, tennis has delivered physical, cognitive, and social advantages, and I’m thankful I discovered a pastime that aligns so well with my life as a doctor.

Fara Bellows is a urologist.