Cardio Tennis: A New Kind Of Workout

WESTBOROUGH, MA- Cardio Tennis has arrived, and it’s here to stay. Launched in 2005 by the TIA (Tennis Industry Association), in conjunction with the USTA, the unique group fitness program gives people the opportunity to play tennis while achieving a full-body workout.

Now overseen by the USTA (as of 2019), more than 2.2 million people nationwide have played Cardio Tennis.

While USTA is still in the early stages of the transition to a complete program takeover, Cardio Tennis is growing at a rapid rate. A recent national survey conducted by the TIA, showed that Cardio Tennis was ranked No. 1 of 118 sports and activities in year-over-year growth.   

This past fall and winter, USTA New England saw the demand for Cardio Tennis rise and created three one-night programs as an extension of the adult social tennis league for young professionals.

“Cardio Tennis is a group fitness class for tennis. I thought our social league players would really enjoy getting to play tennis with a focus on fitness and getting a great workout,” said Sarah Wishart, Senior Manager, Recreational Programs & Events for USTA New England and social league founder.

More than 70 players attended the events at the Mount Auburn Club in Watertown, MA and Wayside Athletic Club in Marlborough, MA.

Lance Andersen, USTA Eastern Massachusetts President and Global Cardio Tennis Master Trainer, led the fast-paced aerobic style classes.  

“As a tennis professional, this is my favorite class to run. The time just flies during Cardio Tennis,” Andersen said. “The keys are having the right instructor, great music and the right equipment, and from there, it’s all about fun.”

A typical Cardio Tennis class involves a warm up featuring dynamic movement, catching/tossing skills and light hitting, followed by a variety of games and activities and a cool down. The warm up and cool down are typically done on a signature Cardio Tennis court. 

“The warmup was a nice way to get moving and break the ice with fellow players,” said Nikki Cachelin, who plays in the social league and attended two Cardio Tennis classes. “From there, groups rotated between four courts, which allowed everyone a nice mixture of cardio, skills and matches. I enjoyed the variety of activities offered and the enthusiasm Lance brought to the evenings.”

“The events were all very well received. I hope people continue to seek out Cardio Tennis, as it’s one of the best total-body workouts you can get,” Andersen said. 

He expects that number to grow with more pilots being added in 2020 and beyond.

For more information on Cardio Tennis or to become an instructor, visit www.cardiotennis.com.