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Cardio Tennis, created in 2005 by the Tennis Industry Association and the USTA, will be a major focus of a huge tennis participation push by Tennis Australia, the governing body of tennis Down Under.

Steve Wood, CEO of Tennis Australia, believes the Cardio Tennis program will change the way tennis is played at facilities across Australia and will play a crucial role in that country’s tennis participation drive. Cardio Tennis, the “third way to play tennis,” is a high-energy fitness activity that combines tennis with cardiovascular exercise, delivering a full-body, calorie-burning workout. The Australian tennis participation drive also will emphasize its MLC Tennis Hot Shots kids’ starter program.

In the U.S., Cardio Tennis participation increased 35% from 2009 to 2010 and 81% since its inception in 2005, according to data from the Physical Activity Council, which tracks participation in 117 sports. The PAC study also says that 1.5 million Americans play Cardio Tennis. According to the TIA, Cardio Tennis is now offered at more than 1,800 U.S. tennis facilities, and is in 30 countries.

“We’re extremely pleased that Tennis Australia has chosen Cardio Tennis to be one of the cornerstones for its drive to increase tennis participation,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “It’s a real credit to all the hard work and dedication put in by Michele Krause, the Cardio Tennis National Program Manager, and her entire Cardio Tennis Speakers Team.”

Krause, in fact, had traveled to Australia prior to the start of the Australian Open in January to conduct coaching workshops for 23 tennis professionals selected by Tennis Australia to be the ambassadors for the Cardio Tennis rollout. “I’m really excited to see the enthusiasm and dedication from these coaches for expanding Cardio Tennis in Australia,” Krause says. “Each of these coaches represents what the Cardio Tennis program is all about: fun, fitness, and a dedication to a healthier lifestyle.”

“We are so keen to progress our tennis mission statement of ‘more players, more often,’ we’ve decided to significantly increase our focus and resources on these two major initiatives—Hot Shots and Cardio Tennis,” says Tennis Australia’s Wood. “Tennis is truly a game for life and all of us at Tennis Australia will be working toward seeing every child with a racquet in their hand and adults rediscovering the joys of tennis through Cardio Tennis.”

The Cardio Tennis rollout will be later this year, and will be directed by Travis Atkinson, Tennis Australia’s manager, coach development. “Cardio Tennis is a great way for people of all ages and abilities, particularly for time-poor young adults, to enjoy tennis as a fitness program,” Atkinson says. “Cardio Tennis will revolutionize the way tennis clubs and coaches attract and communicate with their members and their local communities.”