Elise Mertens is a Belgian professional tennis player. A top 15 player in both singles and doubles, she achieved her career-high singles ranking of world No. 12 on 26 November 2018. On 10 May 2021, she became world No. 1 in women’s doubles holding the top ranking for a week.
Mertens has won six singles and eleven doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including two Grand Slam titles in doubles, at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open with Aryna Sabalenka, as well as eleven singles and thirteen doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. While her most prolific success has come in the form of doubles, including winning both the Indian Wells and Miami doubles titles in 2019 to complete the Sunshine Double, Mertens has also been very successful in singles, including reaching the semifinals at the 2018 Australian Open and the quarterfinals of both the 2019 and 2020 US Open.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with an exceptionally talented Elise Mertens, World No.1 Women’s Doubles Tennis Player, and winner of two Grand Slam titles in doubles; at the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open here she talks about her workout and diet, and mantra of success as a tennis player.
Namita Nayyar:
You have won five singles and nine doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including one Grand Slam doubles title at the 2019 US Open, as well as eleven singles and thirteen doubles titles on the ITF Circuit. Walk us through your spectacular journey and share what all that led you to take up this sport?
Elise Mertens:
My journey into tennis started in my early childhood as I was about three years old. My elder sister Lauren was nine at that time and playing tennis. As my dad had his own company-wood furnisher of churches- I had to go along with my mum, watching my sister practicing and playing tournaments at local clubs.
I wanted to become at least as good as my sister, even dreaming of playing doubles with her. So I started to play once or twice a week. at the age of nine, I left home for tennis boarding school and I really got focused on the game and still do
Namita Nayyar:
You were home-schooled; share with us your experience being able to focus on sports? Your inspirational role models?
Elise Mertens:
As my mum was a teacher, I got the opportunity to get home-school. I was able to divide my time between tennis and study, increasing my focus on tennis. Even when I was living abroad (Mouratoglou near Paris, Boca Raton Florida,) I came home in between tournaments for my exams in Brussels. But soon we all realized that I had to make a choice, which for me was easy to make.
As a matter a fact, nobody inspired me in this decision. It was the only and natural choice for me, without any regrets. You can learn a lot from life itself. And you can study at any age, but playing tennis is limited in time.
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This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life. Your morning begins with.
Elise Mertens:
I start my day around 7.30 a.m. with a healthy breakfast, using my mixer for a shake of spinach, fruit, seeds, almond milk, and cereals.
Warming up at 9-9.30 hrs
Twice a day tennis sometimes once but then with an extra physical practice (10-12:00 hrs and 14-16:00 hrs)
Lunch and rest 12.00-13.30 hrs
Tennis or physical practice 14-16:00 hrs and cooling down massage
Driving back home and spending time with my five dogs and dinner at 19:00 hrs.
Cross words and table tennis with my dad 19.30-20.30 hrs
Relaxing in front of the TV (watching “Thuis” my favorite)
To bed at 22:00 hrs
Namita Nayyar:
Exercises that essentially comprise your workout routine? Five stretching exercises you practice regularly to prevent injury or overcome it? Your advice to beginners in tennis.
Elise Mertens:
Especially for the shoulders, hamstrings, glutes, wrists and ankels exercises.
Advice: Stretching is very important and try to do some exercises to stay agile.
Namita Nayyar:
The diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Two supplements that are key essential for immunity and enhanced performance.
Elise Mertens:
My food is mostly vegetarian with lots of vegetables, pasta, couscous or rice. I also need to toe at some carbs and after a practice in the day; I take an Etixx shake with carbs and protein. When I do power trainingI only take proteins, no carbs.
If I practice more than one hour, in my second hour, I take a Gel, gummies or something with sugar. I take spirulina or chlorella that I add to my shake in the morning, to enhance performance: recovery shake.
Namita Nayyar:
Training in extreme weather conditions can show its toll on hair & skin, Five tips you follow for skin, and hair care?
Elise Mertens:
As a tennis player we sweat a lot, taking shower every day once or twice, especially when we play matches. So I would say : For my hair I have to wash them a lot which is not always a good thing, I use a good moisturizer and conditioner and sometimes a hair mask. For my skin, I would say, of course the +50 and +75 skin care sunscreen, day and night cream.
Namita Nayyar:
A memorable experience from your career that has stayed by you over the years? Quote, you live by.
Elise Mertens:
Of course my semi-final at the Australian Open is still my biggest result in singles so far. It is really one to remember as the first Australian Open semis that I played. It was a very different experience for me. And then also the quarter finals at the US Open last year. I really felt good and always took the most out of myself.
I also won the US Open doubles title, a remember able experience for me last year. And then of course my 5th WTA title in Doha, where I have beaten 3 top 10 players to receive the trophy on winning the tournament. It was a tough week but also the road leading to my number 23 spot in the WTA then. Quote I live by:Never be satisfied with yourself. Try to improve every day.
Namita Nayyar:
In the current pandemic situation, how do you keep yourself busy while staying at home?
Elise Mertens:
I keep up my daily routine. Want to be prepared as if I have to play the day or week after. I go biking, walking with my dogs. As my sister gave birth to twin girls, I love to spend time with them as much as I can. I just enjoy the rest of being home with my family and friends.
Namita Nayyar:
You reached your career-high singles ranking of world No. 12, on 26 November 2018, and the best doubles ranking of No. 2, on 9 September 2019. Share more about that moment of achievement?
Elise Mertens:
At that time, I wasn’t really looking at my ranking so far because it was in the middle of the season, but then I stayed number 12 in singles and number 2 in doubles. Of course it is a big goal for me to do even better after all those years. I hope I still have many years to come to improve even more than in 2018 and 2019 in doubles and even better in the grand slams.
Namita Nayyar:
Social media has gained significance nowadays, how do you use it to inspire your audience?
Elise Mertens:
I try to inspire younger kids to play tennis, not only tennis, but also to do physical stuff. Now a days fitness is very important. I try to put some fitness videos to inspire them. I share what I think is important; my visions on issues as health, animal rights (Virunga) adopt and don’t shop dogs, the red cross etc.
Namita Nayyar:
Share a few words about the website Womenfitness.net and message for our visitors?
Elise Mertens:
Like I said in the previous answer, fitness is very important nowadays, in our sport but also as a lifestyle. Keep your body healthy, fit and try to make the most of yourself, the best out of yourself. Message: Be yourself in everything you do in life, respect others so that they respect you and especially never quit dreaming: dream big.
Elise Mertens Social Media Presence
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/mertenselise/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/elise_mertens
Official website : https://www.elisemertens.be/
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2021 Women Fitness