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“A Good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.”
Mario is an enthusiastic, dedicated, and highly knowledgeable tennis coach with deep experience from the professional tennis tour. He committed his life to tennis from a young age, pursuing professional status with intent and discipline. He achieved professional status in 2015.
At 17, Mario was invited to train at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris. During this time, he trained alongside elite professionals and hit with Serena Williams, as well as multiple Top 100 ATP-ranked players. This period shaped his standards, work ethic, and understanding of elite performance environments.
Across an 18-year playing career, Mario achieved an Australian ranking of 72. He won 10 AMT tournaments and over 20 junior titles. He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of approximately 1513, equivalent to a UTR of 12–13. He competed extensively across Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa in ITF and ATP events.
In 2017, Mario became an accredited Tennis Australia Coach, holding both Junior Development and Club Professional accreditations. This marked a new chapter focused on coaching excellence and long-term development.
Mario is the Director and Head Coach of Spark Tennis. His coaching philosophy is simple. Person first, player second. He sets high standards within a high-support environment. This approach builds strong habits, personal responsibility, and confidence that transfers beyond the court. His programs show exceptional retention and are highly valued within the local community.
Mario also plays a key role in the growth of the South Gisborne Tennis Club, supporting its mission to prosper as a close-knit rural club built on family, growth, and enjoyment.
In addition, Mario is bilingual. He can speak, read, and write in both English and Croatian. His ability to communicate across cultures strengthens his leadership and connection with players, families, and the wider community.
Antun is a former professional tennis player from Dubrovnik, Croatia. He reached No. 1 in the Croatian national rankings, achieved a career-high ATP ranking of 525, and won three ITF Futures titles and a National Championship. As a junior, he competed at the Orange Bowl and Eddie Herr, and trained at the Bollettieri, Sánchez-Casal, and Evert Academies.
Throughout his playing career, Antun was a hitting partner and training team member for some of the world’s best players, including US Open champion Marin Čilić, Olympic silver medallist Mate Pavić, Grand Slam doubles champion Ivan Dodig, and WTA stars Petra Martić, Ajla Tomljanović, and Ana Konjuh.
Since moving into full-time coaching in 2019, Antun has worked across Croatia, Germany, Hong Kong, and now Australia, coaching every level from four-year-old beginners to advanced competitive and professional players. He holds a GPTCA International Coach Licence, a degree in International Relations and Diplomacy, and speaks Croatian, English, and German.
At Spark Tennis, Antun brings world-class playing and training experience to every session — with a focus on technique, movement quality, tactical awareness, and building confidence in every player he works with.
Lee is an accredited psychologist who specialises in working with children who are neurodivergent. Her work aligns closely with the Spark Tennis philosophy of person first, player second.
Lee focuses on understanding the individual before the behaviour. She helps children build emotional regulation, confidence, and self-awareness in environments that value both high standards and high support. Her approach creates safety, clarity, and consistency, allowing children to develop strong habits that transfer beyond sport.
At Spark Tennis, Lee supports players by helping them handle pressure, manage emotions, and engage positively with learning. She works closely with families and coaches to ensure each child feels understood, supported, and challenged in the right way.
Lee’s contribution strengthens the Spark ecosystem. By prioritizing the person behind the player, she helps children grow not only as athletes, but as capable, resilient individuals in everyday life.
Thomas is a high-level tennis coach with strong national and international playing experience. He is drawn to tennis for its individual nature and the accountability it demands. These values continue to guide both his coaching and character.
Thomas rose to the top 10 in Victoria for his birth year and top 50 nationally. He achieved a career-high Australian ranking inside the top 200. He has competed in multiple men’s ITF tournaments and brings firsthand experience from elite competitive environments.
He has trained for several years at the Australian Open as a hitting partner for world-class players. This exposure refined his standards, professionalism, and understanding of what high performance requires on a daily basis.
At Spark Tennis, Thomas applies a person-first, player-second approach. He works within a high-standards, high-support environment that helps players build strong habits, confidence, and ownership of their development.
Thomas coaches players of all levels, from beginners to advanced competitors. His focus is clear progression, consistent fundamentals, and helping each individual grow on and off the court. He is proud to contribute to the Spark community and looks forward to supporting players and families throughout their tennis journey.
Frank is a dedicated tennis coach with a strong foundation built from years of playing the sport from a young age. His lifelong involvement in tennis has given him a clear understanding of technique, strategy, and player development across all ability levels.
Frank is continuing his training toward a full-time coaching career. He is committed to creating a positive, structured, and inclusive learning environment. His coaching focuses on clear instruction, consistency, and helping players build confidence and long-term enjoyment of the game.
At Spark Tennis, Frank aligns closely with the person-first, player-second philosophy. He values high standards paired with strong support. This approach helps players develop good habits, accountability, and pride in their effort, both on and off the court.
Frank values the Spark community for its connection, support, and shared commitment to growth. He takes pride in contributing to an environment where players, families, and coaches encourage one another.
In addition to tennis, Frank is actively involved in pickleball and table tennis. This broader racquet sports background adds depth to his coaching and reinforces his enthusiasm, professionalism, and positive impact within the Spark community.
Ash is a junior coach at Spark Tennis with a genuine love for the game and a strong connection to the Spark pathway. She began playing tennis at age nine and quickly developed a passion for a sport that challenged her while remaining enjoyable and rewarding.
Being coached by Jeremy and Mario played a key role in shaping her experience. Through this coaching, Ash learned discipline, consistency, and the value of enjoying the process, not just the outcome. Tennis helped build her confidence on and off the court and introduced her to friendships that continue today.
As a junior coach, Ash brings energy, empathy, and relatability to every session. She enjoys helping young players build skills, try new things, and feel confident learning alongside their peers. Her focus is on creating a positive first experience with tennis that encourages enjoyment, connection, and long-term participation.
Ash is proud to be part of the Spark community. She values its supportive culture, positivity, and shared commitment to helping every player feel welcome, capable, and inspired through tennis.
Shawn is an experienced and thoughtful tennis coach with a lifelong connection to the game. He began playing at age seven and developed a deep passion for tennis by his early teens, committing to club competition and long-term skill development.
Growing up in South Africa during a period of international sporting isolation shaped Shawn’s appreciation for opportunity and standards. A defining moment came in 1991 when he attended the World Doubles Final in Johannesburg. Watching elite doubles players compete live set a lasting benchmark for professionalism, teamwork, and excellence.
Although Shawn did not pursue a professional playing career, he competed extensively for school and club teams. After university, his career involved significant international travel. Tennis became a constant. He played at clubs around the world, building strong networks and lifelong friendships through the sport.
Shawn transitioned into coaching after choosing to pursue work he genuinely cared about. He completed the Tennis Australia Junior Development qualification and immersed himself fully in coaching. Since then, he has focused on helping players understand how to learn, adapt, and improve with purpose.
Shawn believes tennis is far more than a technical sport. He uses it to teach discipline, problem-solving, and resilience. His coaching reflects the Spark philosophy. Person first, player second. High standards supported by care, structure, and clarity.
At Spark Tennis, Shawn works with players of all levels. He creates an environment where students feel supported, challenged, and confident in their progress. He is proud to be part of a program that values community, growth, and genuine connection with families.
Shawn looks forward to welcoming players and parents on court and supporting each student’s development through consistent, meaningful coaching.
Jeremy is a highly experienced tennis coach with nine years of coaching experience and has been part of Spark Tennis since its inception. He is a lifelong student of the game, having competed as a player up to state level, and brings deep respect for the learning process to his coaching.
Jeremy’s approach reflects the Spark philosophy. Person first, player second. He focuses on building strong habits, curiosity, and self-belief within a high-standards, high-support environment. His sessions are clear, purposeful, and grounded in helping students grow as people as well as players.
With a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Teaching, Jeremy brings strong analytical thinking, communication skills, and educational structure to the court. This background supports his ability to adapt to different learners and handle both technical and personal development with care.
Jeremy has watched the Spark community grow from its earliest days in 2018 into the vibrant, connected environment it is today. He takes pride in contributing to a culture built on consistency, learning, and genuine care for each student.
Get started today with a FREE trial class at Spark Tennis in South Gisborne
“A Good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.”