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 25 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. In 2011 Peter was named the TCAV and Tennis Victoria Club Coach of the Year.
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.
Most recently Peter was selected as a Tennis Australia MLC Hot Shots Ambassador and completed the course with ITF facilitator Mike Barrel. He has been selected as a Cardio Tennis Master Trainer to develop the fitness based program in Australia with Michelle Krause from the USTA.
Additionally Peter is one of 20 coaches Australia wide qualified as a Tennis Australia Master Club Professional incorporating a diploma of management.
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
Tijana Zoric
After a year of anticipation Tijana 'The Pahrinna' Zoric has finally arrived - adding to Toptenn's outstanding professional and multiculrutral coaching team.
At the beginning of 2010 Toptenn and Tijana crossed paths. Excited and impressed by Tijana's qualifications, experience and outgoing personality Toptenn put together a coaching schedule immediately. However, due to uncontrolable circumstances it would be another 12 months before the stars would align and Tijana would begin her Toptenn career.
Tijana has coached and played at the oldest tennis club in the world - The Parnell Lawn Tennis Club in New Zealand - and has recorded singles and doubles championships at Parnell Lawn and at the Kempten Tennis Club in Gernmany. In 2005 Tijana recieved her Professional Tennis Coaching Accreditation which she has put to very good use at Castor Bay in Auckland, Kempten Germany and Courtside Tennis in Mlebourne.
But wait, there's more! As well as being an exceptional tennis player Tijana is also an exceptional athelete. In 2005 Tijana was the runner-up at the Iolani International Cross Country in Hawaii, has a green belt in Karate, and has also worked as a fitness instructor and physical education coordinator.
You can find Tijana at the Burwood Tennis Club, Aqualink Box Hill and the North Kew Tennis Club. Despite her ferocious nickname we promise she doesn't bite - in fact Tijana is extremely down to earth, humble and passionate about children, introducing them to tennis and nurturing their game.
Nickname: Tijanna the Pihranna
Weapon of Choice: Head Star Series 5
NEW
Ed Nunn
Steady Eddie Nunn represented Scotch in the schools First VIII Tennis Team for an Amazing 4 years spaning from 2003-2007. During this incredibly successful era at Scotch College the Tennis team came agonisingly close with consecutive Third and Second place finishes.
Only Eds leadership, capitilised by his warmth and genuine people skills, could hold his team together and in 2007 he was named First VIII Captain, an enormous achievement! The team bounced back the same year.
You may have also seen Ed involved in the Country Tennis Circut as an incredibly successful coach and player.
Nickname: Fast Eddie (you should see his serve!)
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Speed Pro
NEW
Kim 'do the Kimpossible' Ingerson
Kimmy 'Kimpossible' Ingerson literally walked through Toptenn's doors and straight into a coaching position. At the beginning of 2011 Kim made the bold decision to relocate her life in Adelaide to Melbourne - the home of Tennis Australia.
As a passionate tennis player and coach Kim's first stop when she arrived in Melbourne was finding a new local tennis club to coach and play - luckily for us she chose the Burwood Tennis Club. Toptenn was so impressed with Kimmy and her bouncing personality we invited her to help Wonder Coach Natalie Bacon with our Aussie Mozzie Program. From there Kimmy has continued to grow from strength to strength working closely as a coach, role model and mentor for Toptenn's young female players. Kim can be found coaching at Burwood Tennis Club on a Wednesday afternoon and at North Kew Tennis Club on a Friday afternoon.
Kimmy is also a full time registered nurse and does a wonderful job as Toptenn's Health Manager.
Nickname: Kimpossible
Weapon of Choice: YouTek Radical Elite
CURRENT
Natalie Bacon
(Administrator, Head Coach BTC, Junior teams Coordinator, Toptenn Co-Manager)
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.
'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
Weapon of Choice: Head Liquid Metal 4
Steven 'Stretch' Kavanagh
(Head Coach North Kew Tennis Club)
Many Toptenn students will remember legendary Coach Steven 'Stretch' Kavanagh. To cut a long story short, after 2 years coaching abroad at some of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, including work with Lifetime Tennis and Woodfield Grove Tennis Club, Toptenn is very excited to annouce that Stretch has finally returned! To this day you can still hear "Is stretch comming back?" asked over and over by the kids on a Saturday morning at Aqualink, Box Hill - where Stretch was King of the Kids for 57years.
Before his time in London Stretch coached with Toptenn for over 7 years and became a Totpenn hero among the coaches, children, mums and dads!.
Steven's coaching philosophy is strongly based on technique, success and enjoyment.
Book your lesson fast!
Nickname: Stretcha
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Extreme Elite
Brent Rowe (The new Mr. Tennis)
(Head Coach Burwood TC)
New Toptenn coach Brent Rowe lives, sleeps, eats and breathes tennis. Whilst checking out the latest and greatest things at the 2010 Janurary Tennis Coaches Conference Brent met Toptenn Director Peter and Chief Administrator Natalie. Peter and Natalie were so impressed by Brent's raw passion and global experience they started to explore ways to move Brent down from Queensland - where he was Head Coach at the Laffs Tennis Centre. It has been Brent's lifelong goal to be a Professional Coach in the Grand Slam city of Melbourne - dreams do come true.
Brent is a Tennis Australia Club Professional Coach who has coached at 8 different countries all over the world under the prestigious Club Med Resort Coaching Program. Brent has also worked with the Pat Cash tennis academy, assisting in the development of Australian junior superstars such as Bernard Tomic. He is a ball of energy, with an unwavering friendliness and warm th. Brent is obsessed with tennis and getting the most out of his students, developing them mentally and physically.
Before he became a full time coach Brent was concierge to the rich and famous at the Sofitel Hotel in Brisbane where he met Robbie Williams, Fergie, Pat Rafter, Novak Djokovic and many more famous faces. He has many interesting stories to share about all of them.
Brent's favourite player is Andre Agassi - he has just finished reading Andre's Auto-Biography Open for the 5th time. We are yet to find a question about Andre Brent cannot answer...make sure you test him at your next lesson!
Nickname: Brent Star
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Radical
Peter Campbell
(Head Coah Bluebell Hell Tennis Club)
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 the Wimbeldon Championships.
He 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.
Peter is a very accomphished tennis player and holds a degree in Commerce
and Pschology - great for building a strong mental game. He is a member of United States Professional Tennis Registry.
Peter is heavily involved with our elite player programmes.
Nickname: Pistol Pete
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Prestige
Tim Shackleton
(Active Afterschool Specialist, Head Coach Aqualink Box Hill)
Tim 'Shack Attack' Shackleton is Toptenn's Active Afterschool and Hot Shots Radical / Hot Shots Extreme specialist. Tim was a former Toptenn student for over 5 years and has been involved in competitive tennis since he was 10 years old. Currently, Tim plays Grade 4 Pennant for the Burwood Tennis Club on Saturday afternoons.
Tim is currently in his 3rd year of Exercise and Sport Science at Deakin University and has senior coaching roles at Deepdene Tennis Club, Burwood Tennis Club, St. Thomas the Apostle Primary and Forest Hill College. Shack Attacj also applies his biomechanical knowledge to a wide range of private sessions - working with them to fine tune technique and tailor winning strategies.
Tim has had extensive mentoring from Toptenn Tennis Club Professional Coach Tristan Harper and Master Club Professional / Toptenn Director Peter Owen.
Nickname: Shaq Attack
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Prestige
Hamish Clark
(PR Manager, Co-Manager)
Hamish, along with Natalie, works behind the scenes in the Welcome Centre at the Burwood Tennis Club to make sure your Toptenn experience is as enjoyable and as smooth as possible.
Hamish is also a member of Toptenn's Head Coaching Team as a Junior Development Coach which he uses to run engaging sessions building the confidence and self-esteem of his pupils.
Hamish also has a degree in Health Promotion and later this year will be returning to uni to complete his Masters in Public Health.
Nickname: Mish Mash
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Extreme
Lisa Simpson
(Head Coach Scotch College & Deepdene Tennis Club)
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
Nickname: Mona Lisa
Weapon of Choice: Head Ti. Supreme
Christine Oltvay
(Aussie Mozzie Specialist, Head Coach)
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 making 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!
Chrissy has almost finished her diploma in primary education and plans to hit the schoolyard in the coming years.
Nickname: Control Olt Delete Vay!
Weapon of Choice: Head Microgel Extreme
Josh Sakaraessen
(Head Coach)
Josh first arrived at Toptenn to fill the humongous shoes of Toptenn legend Matt Sunter ... and did an outstanding job. Faced with perhaps the biggest challenge in Toptenn's histroy Josh created a dynasty of his own and fast became one of Toptenn's favourite coaches.
Josh is a TCA Development Coach with a strong acting background. His vibrant and outgoing personality is enjoyed by all his students, and his coaching philosophy centres strongly around percieved progression. Josh has just returned from LA pursuing an acting career and coaching at UCLA to support this habit! Look out for the Josha as the next big Australian Movie Star.
Nickname: Josha
Weapon of Choice: Head YouTek Raptor
Tristan Harper
(Product Specialists, BTC Head Coach)
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.
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.
After a year of anticipation Tijana 'The Pahrinna' Zoric has finally arrived - adding to Toptenn's outstanding professional and multiculrutral coaching team.
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.
Many Toptenn students will remember legendary Coach Steven 'Stretch' Kavanagh. To cut a long story short, after 2 years coaching abroad at some of the most prestigious clubs in Europe, including work with Lifetime Tennis and Woodfield Grove Tennis Club, Toptenn is very excited to annouce that Stretch has finally returned! To this day you can still hear "Is stretch comming back?" asked over and over by the kids on a Saturday morning at Aqualink, Box Hill - where Stretch was King of the Kids for 57years. 
New Toptenn coach Brent Rowe lives, sleeps, eats and breathes tennis. Whilst checking out the latest and greatest things at the 2010 Janurary Tennis Coaches Conference Brent met Toptenn Director Peter and Chief Administrator Natalie. Peter and Natalie were so impressed by Brent's raw passion and global experience they started to explore ways to move Brent down from Queensland - where he was Head Coach at the Laffs Tennis Centre. It has been Brent's lifelong goal to be a Professional Coach in the Grand Slam city of Melbourne - dreams do come true. 
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 the Wimbeldon Championships. 
Tim 'Shack Attack' Shackleton is Toptenn's Active Afterschool and Hot Shots Radical / Hot Shots Extreme specialist. Tim was a former Toptenn student for over 5 years and has been involved in competitive tennis since he was 10 years old. Currently, Tim plays Grade 4 Pennant for the Burwood Tennis Club on Saturday afternoons. 
Hamish, along with Natalie, works behind the scenes in the Welcome Centre at the Burwood Tennis Club to make sure your Toptenn experience is as enjoyable and as smooth as possible.
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.
Christine came to Toptenn half way through 2008 and made an instant impression on the Toptenn Team and her Toptenn students.
