Cardio Tennis to be Featured on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

Anna Kournikova to help the 15 contestants burn calories through tennis

October 5, 2010 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Tuesday night’s episode of the hit TV show “The Biggest Loser” will feature Cardio Tennis as a key part of the weight-loss and fitness program for the 15 contestants. The show will air on NBC, Oct. 5, at 8:00 p.m. EST/7:00 p.m. CST. Helping to keep the contestants on track during Cardio Tennis will be professional tennis player and glamour sensation Anna Kournikova. Contestants on the show undergo a rigorous fitness regimen to help them lose weight while vying for a top prize of $250,000.

It was Kournikova who had suggested Cardio Tennis to the show’s producers back in May, in conjunction with her scheduled appearance on “The Biggest Loser.” She had been familiar with the popular Cardio Tennis program (www.cardiotennis.com) and thought it would be a perfect tool for contestants to use to get in shape. Cardio Tennis is a fun and healthy group activity featuring drills and play-based games to give players of all abilities an ultimate high-energy workout that burns calories.

For Tuesday’s episode, which was filmed at the Calabasas Swim and Tennis Club in Calabasas, Calif., in June, the 15 contestants were divided onto two tennis courts, alternately working with Kournikova and Cardio Tennis National Program Manager Michele Krause and trainers Chris Ojakian and David Schwartz.

“The contestants all loved the Cardio Tennis program, and Anna was great working with them and keeping them moving,” said Krause. “Everyone was very impressed with the health and exercise benefits that Cardio Tennis delivered.”

Taught by tennis teaching professionals, Cardio Tennis includes a warm-up, a cardio workout, and cool-down phases. Participants consistently keep their heart rate in their aerobic heart-rate zone, allowing them to burn the maximum amount of calories. Most of the contestants on "The Biggest Loser" had limited tennis-playing experience, but one of the features of Cardio Tennis is that it is designed for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced.

“One of the contestants used to play tennis and missed being on the court,” adds Krause. “She was particularly excited to find out about the Cardio Tennis program as a way to get in shape and back on the court so she could enjoy tennis again.”

Cardio Tennis was developed in 2005 by the Tennis Industry Association in conjunction with the U.S. Tennis Association as a fun and healthy exercise to get in shape and lose weight. It is a high-energy fitness activity that combines the best features of the sport of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering the ultimate, full-body, calorie-burning aerobic workout. There are now more than 1,700 Cardio Tennis sites in the U.S. To find out more about Cardio Tennis, including where to find a program near you, visit CardioTennis.com.

“The Biggest Loser,” now in its 10th season, is hosted by Alison Sweeney. This year, the show brought its theme, “Pay It Forward,” to seven U.S. cities, encouraging communities to live a healthier and more active lifestyle.

For more information, visit www.cardiotennis.com or www.TennisIndustry.org.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
USTA NTC
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