The Toptenn Tennis Academy is a full-time professional Tennis Academy employing carefully chosen staff who meet very specific criteria. Our Senior Coaches are required to be Tennis Australia "Advanced" or "Club Professional" accreditation coaches and all assistants must complete their Tennis Australia "Junior Development" coach qualifications. Teaching tennis at Toptenn is not a hobby...it is a lifelong passion and commitment to provide quality coaching and unlimited opportunities to our students. Please study our website carefully to discover all of the services, extras, and added value we offer
Director,
Head Coach, TACM, USTPA-1, President TCAV, B.Ed.
Head Professional Peter Owen's tennis career began
with successful junior performances at State and National level, including selection
in Victoria's Linton Cup Squad. Peter represented universities in both Tennessee
and Texas in NCAA Division 1 and NAIA respectively, and later played the U.S. and European Professional
Tennis Circuit.
Peter has been active in tennis coaching for the past 20 years, including positions
in many clubs throughout Victoria. His international experience includes coaching
at various John Newcombe Tennis Centres throughout the U.S., and also the prestigious
Century Country Club in New York.
Peter's qualifications include a Bachelor of Education in Physical Education
and a Diploma of Tennis Coaching. Peter is a registered member of Tennis Coaches
Victoria, Tennis Australia Coach Membership and is also
a registered member of the United States Professional Tennis Association at the
highest level.
Peter has served as President of Tennis Coaches Australia Victoria for almost two years and has seen it through a very challenging period with the restructuring of Tennis Australia. Peter has also been appointed to the Tennis Australia National Coach Advisory Group.
He is also a Director of Kanga Tennis Tours International and Camp X Multi-Sport
Camps, and continues to attend many international conferences to ensure his students
receive the latest training methods.
Peter won a bronze and gold medal in the 2002 World Masters Games in singles
and doubles respectively and was awarded Tennis Victoria Veterans Tennis Series
“Player of the Year” for 2004.
Peter established Toptenn to provide professional
tennis coaching and an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the lifetime game of
tennis.
NEW
NEW
Charles Melhape
Toptenn would like to introduce you to the newest member of our Senior Coaching Team - Charles Melhape!
Charles has recently arrived in Melbourne after moving down from Alice Springs where he was the Head Coach at the Red Centre Tennis Academy. Charles brings even more experience and diversity to the Toptenn Tennis Academy Coaching Dream Team. Born and raised in South Africa, Charles has also worked as a Pro Tennis Coach at the South African World of Tennis and a Director of Tennis at Greenwood Camp in Decatur in the United States. Charles has also been involved in professional competitions around the world.
Charles has a very special way of relating to, and communicating with, people and has already developed a fantastic repore with all of his students.
Charles has been a big hit at our Mums and Mozzies Sessions, Scotch Lunchtimes and Toptenn Private Lessons.
Nichname: Charlie Brown
NEW
Giselle De Bartalo
Like all coaches at Toptenn Tennis Giselle De Bartalo's passion is tennis. Giselle has been involved in tennis all her life. In 2009 Gisellle completed the Tennis Australia Junior Development Course. Tennis Australia snapped her up quickly to work in their Junior Coaching Programs and Talent Search and Talent Identification initiatives.
Giselle is currently playing Grade 2 pennant and in Easter 2010 was the Runner Up in the Open Ladies Denlliquin Lawn Tournament.
Giselle is an an excellent motivator and constatly gets the most out of her students. Giselle is friendly and extremely professional and works very hard to relate to her students.
In 2005 Giselle became a Qualified Master Personal Trainer which she completed at the Australian Intstitute of Sport. This, along with her extensive tennis knowledge and background, makes her the perfect fit to drive our Cardio Tennis programs.
Nickname: G-Star
NEW
Jenna McManus
Accounts Manager
Toptenn gives you Jenna McManus - the newest member of our Administration Team.
Jenna arrived at Toptenn at the beginning of May to work as Toptenn's Account Manager. Jenna will now be handling all your questions and queries regarding your Toptenn accounts with her startling efficiency and effectiveness.
Nickname: Jenna-Rator
CURRENT
Natalie Bacon
(Administrator, Coach, Junior teams Coordinator)
Natalie is Toptenn's office administrator, qualified as a TCV
and Tennis Australia Club Professional and is actively involved in the Toptenn Pro-Shop. She also coordinates and
coaches brilliantly in our fun-filled Aussie Mozzie and TA Hot Shot programs and does a fantastic job in ensuring that all
the kids have a great time.
Natale is Chief Administrator for Burwood TC, Deepdene TC, Aqualink Box Hill and Cantebury Baptist TC.
'Nat Attack' is also the Junior Teams Coordinator for the Burwood Tennis Club and puts hours of behind the scenes work into organising, supporting, encouraging and developing these teams!
Nickname: Nat Attack
Tristan Harper
Tristan is a TCV Advanced Coach who recently graduated 3rd highest in all of Victoria. Tristan is also registered with Tennis Australia Coach Membership as a Club Professional and returned from study in the US to achieve his United States Professional Tennis Association qualification. Recently, Tristan compiled a 96 week coaching program for the Development Stage (Radicals), Encouragement Stage (Extremes), Enhancement Stage (Prestiges) and Cultivation Stage (Prestige +). This includes technical and tactical components, awards and student reports. In 2004 Tristan graduated from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Disability Studies. Tristan is the ultimate tennis professional. His knowledge of the game, history and products is second to none.
Twistie is the Head Coach of the Burwood Tennis Club, and coordinates all Hotshots Group, Team Toptenn, private and adult coaching programmes. He also works in our ProShop and is our #1 restringer stringing approximately 1000 racquets in a year. Tristan is a former TopTenn student who was awarded Player of the Year in 1997.
Nickname: Twistie
Peter Campbell
Has worked as Senior Tennis Coach at David Lloyd
Leisure Ltd in Raynes Park London and as a hitting partner for players competing
at Wimbeldon. Peter has also held positions in Damascus Syria (working with the
Syrian Davis Cup team) in Durban South Africa and a Tennis Hotel Wolfgangsea
in Austria. He is a very accomphished tennis player and holds a degree in Commerce
and Pschology. He is a member of United States Professional Tennis Registry.
Peter is heavily involved with our elite player programmes.
Nickname: Pistol Pete
Stephen Kangwa
Toptenn would like to extend a very warm welcome Stephen Kangwa, one of the newest members of the Toptenn Coaching Team.
Stephen and his wife Kara (formely from the Burwood Tennis Club) moved to Australia from New York two years ago. During his time in New York Stephen was the tennis director at the V.I.P Beach and Racquet Club and became a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) as a Pro 1. He has also completed degrees in Commerce and Behavioural Science.
'Jangles' as we have come to know him has a long and impressive playing background. In short, Stephen is a former Davis Cup Captain for Zambia and has acheived a world ranking of 50 on the professional tour.
Stephen is the head coach at the North Kew Tennis Club and coaches the Scotch First Team.
Nickname: Jangles
Hamish Clark
Hamish works extensively in the pro shop with Chief ,administrator Natalie, behind our coaching enquiries desk. That is where you will hear his happy voice! Hamish is also a member of Toptenn's Head Coaching Team. Hamish is a Tennis Australia Development Coach and has a degree in Health Promotion. Later in the year Hamish is returning to study to complete a diploma in primary teaching.
Hamish is Chief Administrator for Bluebell Hill TC, Holy Trinity TC, North Kew TC, Scotch College, St. Thomas the Apostle Primary School and Burwood Heights Primary / Forest Hill College.
Nickname: Mish Mash
Lisa Simpson
Lisa is bright and passionate inclusion to our experienced and diverse coaching team. Lisa had been coaching at the Yaarbat Tennis Centre in Balwyn, but has moved across to Toptenn to become a full time professional. Lisa has taken the Tennis Australia Junior Development Course and is presently coaching at Canterbury Baptist TC, Burwood TC, Scotch College, North Kew TC and Deepdene TC. Lisa is working closely with the Camberwell Grammar School Teams and is the Head coach at the Deepdene Tennis Club and at Scotch College. Lisa is also the head of our junior Xpoint competitions at Burwood, North Kew and Deepdene.
Amazingly Lisa not only shares a name with the famous TV character, she was also born on the same day and believe it or not our Lisa plays the saxophone!!! Spooky
Nickname: Everybody Love's Lisa
Stuart McCracken
Stuart, the Wangaratta Wizard, is a Tennis Australia Development Coach and is now studying to become a Club Professional Coach. Before moving to Melbourne Stuart was a head coach at the Wangaratta Lawn Tennis Club working alongside and learning from tennis legends. Stu was also the club champion thanks to his bazooka serve and volley game.
Stu is one of our most popular coaches among junior students because of his warm, friendly and outgoing nature. He fits the mould of the friendly tennis school perfectly and all of Stuart's students enjoy themselves while learning in a fun and positive environment. Stu's students always leave with a smile on their face. Currently, Stuart is coaching at Aqualink Box Hill where he is King of the Kids on Saturday morning, Bluebell Hill, Burwood, St. Thomas and Deepdene. He is the Head coach of Holy Trinity in Surrey Hills.
Nickname: Stu-bacca
Nick Gissing
Tennis Australia Junior Development Coach Nick Gissing is Mr.
Tennis. Nick shows unwavering dedication and passion to tennis
and teaching and strives to make every lesson more fun and more informative than the last. Nick was coaching in his hometown of Albury before moving to Melbourne to study Sports Coaching at Deakin University.
Nick is the ultimate role model for all of our Hot Shot Students. He is freidnly, professional and approachable. Nick has the rare ability to be able to relate to all age groups and individuals - to teach in different ways that best relate to the individual.
During the 2010 Australian Open Nick worked with Tennis Australia to film players for biomechanical purposes using Dartfish technology. You may have seen him on Rod Laver Arena metres away from the likes of Nadal, Fed and Henin. He now has ongoing work with Tennis Australia. Nick is the Toptenn Head Coach at Aqualink Box Hill.
Nickname: Mr. Tennis
Christine Oltvay
Christine came to Toptenn half way through 2008 and made an instant impression on the Toptenn Team and her Toptenn students.
Her enthusiasm, nature and energy is infectious, which makes her lessons so engaging, fun and motivating for our Aussie Mozzies, Hot Shots Radical and Hot Shots Extreme Students. Chrissy has a fantastic rapport with all of students and is a fantastic role model for young girls. She is now the head of Toptenn's Aussie Mozzie Coaching Program.
Prior to Toptenn Chrissy was involved in the mum and toddler mornings at the Greensborough Tennis Club and the Australian Open child entertainment program FanFest. Chrissy's passion for tennis shows in her work as a court services officer at the Australian Open and her misplaced love for Lleyton Hewitt and Raf Nadal. If she is not teaching tennis she is playing or watching it. There is not an Australian Tennis Statistic she doesn't know...Why not test her at your next lesson!
At the moment Christine is also a part time student studing arts-law.
Nickname: Control Olt Delete Vay!
Josh Sakaraessen
Josh has done a wonderful job taking over from Matt during his international travels. Josh is a TCA Development Coach and with his acting background is excellent entertainment and fun for the kids. Josh is also taking the Adult Nights at Deepdene and North Kew and the notorious Wednesday Ladies at Aqualink! Josh has just returned from LA pursuing an acting career and coaching at UCLA to support this ridiculous habit!
Henry Dick
Henry comes to Toptenn knowing the winning formula after
being the tennis captain of a very successful scotch tennis team. He worked closely with the boys on the team as a motivator and leader. Henry is great with the kids and is able to put concepts and ideas into a language and imagery they can understand. He is very outgoing and is helping the Monday Deepdene students to develope match winning strategies.
Steph Gadsden
Steph recently completed the TCV Development Coaching Course and is recognised by Tennis Australia as a Junior Development Coach. Stephanie conducts group and squad programmes at Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills and Burwood Tennis Clubs. She also assists in the Pro-Shop and is one of our competent re-stringers . Steph is a former TopTenn student who was awarded Player of the Year in 1999.
Nickname: Stepho
Ryan Wood (Toptenn Toorak)
Ryan Wood, a former nationally ranked junior, is an accomplished tennis player playing Grade 1 Victorian Tennis Series Pennant for Grace Park. Ryan is currently coaching at Deepdene Tennis Club and we look forward to more involvement from Ryan in thr future. His father Steve is the CEO of Tennis Australia and a member of the all-conquering Burwood Tennis Club Dream Team.
Head Professional Peter Owen's tennis career began
with successful junior performances at State and National level, including selection
in Victoria's Linton Cup Squad. Peter represented universities in both Tennessee
and Texas in NCAA Division 1 and NAIA respectively, and later played the U.S. and European Professional
Tennis Circuit.
Toptenn would like to introduce you to the newest member of our Senior Coaching Team - Charles Melhape! 
Like all coaches at Toptenn Tennis Giselle De Bartalo's passion is tennis. Giselle has been involved in tennis all her life. In 2009 Gisellle completed the Tennis Australia Junior Development Course. Tennis Australia snapped her up quickly to work in their Junior Coaching Programs and Talent Search and Talent Identification initiatives. 
Natalie is Toptenn's office administrator, qualified as a TCV
and Tennis Australia Club Professional and is actively involved in the Toptenn Pro-Shop. She also coordinates and
coaches brilliantly in our fun-filled Aussie Mozzie and TA Hot Shot programs and does a fantastic job in ensuring that all
the kids have a great time.
Has worked as Senior Tennis Coach at David Lloyd
Leisure Ltd in Raynes Park London and as a hitting partner for players competing
at Wimbeldon. Peter has also held positions in Damascus Syria (working with the
Syrian Davis Cup team) in Durban South Africa and a Tennis Hotel Wolfgangsea
in Austria. He is a very accomphished tennis player and holds a degree in Commerce
and Pschology. He is a member of United States Professional Tennis Registry.
Peter is heavily involved with our elite player programmes.
Hamish works extensively in the pro shop with Chief ,administrator Natalie, behind our coaching enquiries desk. That is where you will hear his happy voice! Hamish is also a member of Toptenn's Head Coaching Team. Hamish is a Tennis Australia Development Coach and has a degree in Health Promotion. Later in the year Hamish is returning to study to complete a diploma in primary teaching. 
Lisa is bright and passionate inclusion to our experienced and diverse coaching team. Lisa had been coaching at the Yaarbat Tennis Centre in Balwyn, but has moved across to Toptenn to become a full time professional. Lisa has taken the Tennis Australia Junior Development Course and is presently coaching at Canterbury Baptist TC, Burwood TC, Scotch College, North Kew TC and Deepdene TC. Lisa is working closely with the Camberwell Grammar School Teams and is the Head coach at the Deepdene Tennis Club and at Scotch College. Lisa is also the head of our junior Xpoint competitions at Burwood, North Kew and Deepdene.
Steph recently completed the TCV Development Coaching Course and is recognised by Tennis Australia as a Junior Development Coach. Stephanie conducts group and squad programmes at Holy Trinity, Surrey Hills and Burwood Tennis Clubs. She also assists in the Pro-Shop and is one of our competent re-stringers . Steph is a former TopTenn student who was awarded Player of the Year in 1999.