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Austin returns to Tennis Channel Academy

LOS ANGELES — Hall of Famer and television’s favorite tennis coach, Tracy Austin, is serving up a fifth season of Tennis Channel Academy, as she returns to host the popular program that gives viewers an opportunity to sharpen up their game with an exclusive tennis lesson from the world’s best instructors each week.

Since the show’s debut in 2008, Austin has been introducing Tennis Channel viewers to a new coach and accompanying set of pro-level tips and techniques each week. The half-hour series kicks off Sunday, Dec. 2, at 12 p.m. ET with lessons from Nick Saviano. Peter Lundgren, who has coached some of the greatest players of all time, including Roger Federer, will be featured in the next episode. Subsequent editions will premiere on Sundays throughout December and a complete schedule can be found on www.tennischannel.com/schedule.

“I’m looking forward to our new season and am thrilled to head back to the courts again this year with another lineup of Tennis Channel Academy,” said Austin, who has hosted the show for the last four years. “We have an impressive roster of pros this year and I can’t wait for our viewers to utilize the top-level instruction that’s regularly put into use by the players on the men’s and women’s professional tours with this series.”

Each episode of Tennis Channel Academy features a different coach offering his or her distinct tennis knowhow, with top-notch techniques and tips that can be used by players of all levels-from beginners to seasoned professionals. In the season opener, Austin is joined by Nick Saviano, who attained a career-high No. 48 singles ranking while on the ATP Tour, and was an All-American athlete at Stanford University. He will teach viewers warm-up techniques, court positioning, movement, balance and other routines.

The second edition of Tennis Channel Academy offers tips from Peter Lundgren, who rose to fame as coach when he took Marcelo Rios into the top 10 in the late 1990s, and replaced Peter Carter as coach for Roger Federer in 2000. Lundgren gives viewers insight into the drills he used with Federer, as well as serve techniques and other bits of wisdom he’s gleaned throughout his coaching career.

Best known for his unique double-handed forehand, Jan-Michael Gambill rounds out the roster this season as the pro shares the method behind his forehand and shapes up viewers with a Cross Fit workout designed to help players on and off the court. Gambill attained a career-high No. 14 singles ranking in 2011.

2012 Tennis Channel Academy Premiere Schedule

Episode Location Date Time (ET) Nick Saviano The Tennis Club, Newport Beach, Calif. Dec. 2 12 p.m. Peter Lundgren Galleria Tennis and Athletic Club, Houston Dec. 9 12 p.m. Jan-Michael Gambill Coto De Caza Golf and Racquet Club, Dec. 16 12 p.m. Coto de Caza, Calif.

Posted on November 30, 2012
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