Serving Aces With Champion Tennis Player and Peloton Member Angelique Kerber

Tennis is the ultimate test of endurance. A single match can span hours (sometimes days!), requiring both body and mind to be intensely focused for the entire duration—lest a momentary lapse allow an opponent to capitalize. For a player to masterfully find a rhythm between the explosive power of each rally and measured burn of each set is nothing short of the pinnacle of athleticism. And multiple Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber knows the feeling intimately.

One of the most successful German athletes in history, with an Olympic silver medal and 34 weeks spent as the number-one women’s tennis player in the world, Angelique exemplifies the spirit of tennis in the way she trains and lives. “I need to have goals in mind,” she says. “It fills the daily grind with purpose.” Whether it’s a grueling match or a training session on a blazing summer’s day, Angelique’s mindset is the first thing to get into gear, as priming for the physical performance to follow. And sometimes, it’s a burst of emotion more powerful than a forehand that’ll get her mind right. “To get myself pumped up I scream ‘Komm jetzt!’ at times. I’ve been doing this since I was a teenager!”

So, how exactly does Angelique train for a sport that’s equal parts ultra-endurance event and fiery explosivity? For a start, with her Peloton Bike and app! “As someone who always enjoyed working out as part of a community to help push my limits, Peloton was an exciting concept to start with, and it proved to be a game changer. My training routine is influenced by my tournament schedule, but I generally like to mix it up and try new things—especially in between competitions. HIIT training has become a central cornerstone of my fitness regimen, and Peloton provides the perfect tools for it.” On Angelique’s rest days—or rather—active recovery days (“I believe in active regeneration,” she tells us), you’ll find her on the mat enjoying one of Peloton’s yoga classes—a perfect counterbalance to the intensity of her sport-specific training.

When watching a singles tennis match, each player neatly situated on their own half of the court, it’s too easy to deem the game an “individual sport,” when in reality, the team sitting in the player’s box is instrumental to the result of every serve, every rally, every point. “I couldn’t be successful without my team,” says Angelique. “It is natural to have days when your motivation is lacking and then somebody else steps in to lift you up. This is something I also found in the Peloton community. You enter as an individual, and shortly after, you’re inspired by the power of the community.” Wherever we’re training from in the world, we may be physically alone—but the Leaderboard is our eternal reminder of the team by our side. “I see the Leaderboard as a healthy competition, but in an uplifting and powerful way,” says Angelique. “The Peloton community has a very positive outlook on life, and I feel like everyone supports each other.” To that, we couldn’t agree more.

Ready to be on Angelique’s side of the court? Join her in four days of curated Peloton class stacks, with workouts ranging from HIIT & hills rides to slow flow yoga (in German, with English subtitles)—classes that she frequents in prep for tournaments!

Let’s ace this week of training together. Check out Angelique’s stacks below and find all the classes in the Champions Collection.