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Kournikova is New Cardio Tennis Spokesperson

December 15, 2010

Tennis star Anna Kournikova is the new spokesperson for the popular Cardio Tennis program and will appear in a public relations campaign to promote the program.

“The sport of tennis gives your whole body a workout, and Cardio Tennis takes it up another level,” says Kournikova. “It’s designed for players of all ages and levels from beginners to advanced. You get a great workout and burn tons of calories. Plus, it’s a lot of fun—certainly more interesting than working out in the gym. And to top it off, you’ll improve your tennis, too.”

Cardio Tennis is a group activity featuring drills and play-based games to give players of all abilities a high-energy workout that burns calories. “Tennis overall is a lot of cardio; your heart rate has to be up,” Kournikova says. “The key is to move, move, move, have fun and have a great attitude about it.”

“We’re thrilled that Anna will be promoting Cardio Tennis,” says Jolyn de Boer, executive director of the TIA, which manages Cardio Tennis. “Now, more than ever, it’s so important to offer programs that help people achieve overall good health. Thousands have already improved their health and fitness with Cardio Tennis, and with Anna, we feel many, many more will realize the benefits—and the fun—of this program.”

“I’m looking forward to working with Anna on promoting Cardio Tennis not just in the U.S., but worldwide,” says Cardio Tennis National Program Manager Michele Krause. “Cardio Tennis has been expanding rapidly, as people realize it will not only help them achieve their fitness goals, but also will help them improve their tennis.”

Kournikova’s interest in Cardio Tennis peaked when she was scheduled to appear on the popular NBC show “The Biggest Loser.” The tennis star suggested to the show’s producers that she run a Cardio Tennis workout. “I knew it would be the perfect on-court workout for the contestants to use to get in shape,” she says. The episode aired on Oct. 5, with Kournikova putting the 15 contestants through a fat-burning Cardio Tennis workout as a key part of the show’s weight-loss and fitness program, encouraging them to keep moving and keep their heart rate up.

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. One of the features of Cardio Tennis is that it is designed for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced.

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 new website, featuring Kournikova, is currently under construction and will be launched in the coming weeks.)

The 29-year-old Kournikova joined the pro tour in 1995, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 8 in the world in singles, and No. 1 in the world in doubles. Kournikova won 16 WTA Tour doubles titles, winning the Australian Open doubles title twice (1999 and 2002) with partner Martina Hingis. While Kournikova hasn’t played on the WTA Tour since 2003, she continues to promote the game of tennis by participating in exhibition matches and charitable events throughout the U.S. and the world. She will also be entering into her ninth season with the World TeamTennis Pro League, where she currently plays for the St. Louis Aces.

A huge supporter of tennis for players of all ages and abilities, Kournikova is heavily involved in causes that promote health and fitness, particularly for families and children. She currently is an ambassador for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Cartoon Network and the USO, for which she visits military bases and speaks to families and children. She also spends a great deal of time as a global ambassador for PSI, a global health organization, educating young people around the world on making healthy and educated decisions regarding health and lifestyle.