Coaching Team
Our Coaches
The FDT Coaching team are committed to making all players the best they can be. Our Tennis Australia Qualified Coaches deliver informative and engaging lessons while ensuring each lesson remains fun and enjoyable from start to finish.
Box Hill Tennis Club
Head Coach
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
Assistant Coach
SENIOR COACH
ASSISTANT COACH
ASSISTANT COACH
Balwyn Park Tennis Club
Head Coach
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Cranross Tennis Club
Head Coach
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
Assistant Coach
St Christopher's Tennis Club
Head Coach
SENIOR COACH
SENIOR COACH
Assistant Coach
Assistant Coach
Our Holy Redeemer Primary School
Battheram Park Tennis Club
Box Hill Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
HOLLMAN PINZON
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Hu Tao
Assistant Coach
Sam Day
Tim Wilson
Balwyn Park Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
HOLLMAN PINZON
Linda Kelly
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Ken Wang
Assistant Coach
Sam Day
Eduardo
Assistant Coach
Jasper Diep
Cranross Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
HOLLMAN PINZON
Eduardo
Assistant Coach
Jasper Diep
St Christopher's Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
Hu Tao
Assistant Coach
Calum Bennet
Our Holy Redeemer Primary School
Sam Day
About the Coaches
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
Qualification – Tennis Australia Club Professional
Tennis Coaches Association of Victoria George Gilmore Club Coach of the Year 2023
USPTA Coach Award
Alexei is the Owner and Head Coach of FD Tennis. He has 24 years coaching experience both in Australia and abroad and currently holds a Tennis Australia Club Professional qualification. In 2023, Alexei was awarded the TCAV George Gilmore Club Coach of the Year award and he is passionate about providing a strong learning environment for all players and is driven by seeing them progress and grow through their tennis journey.
HOLLMAN PINZON
SENIOR COACH
Qualification – Tennis Australia Club Professional
Hollman is a Senior Coach at FD Tennis and has been coaching for over 20 years across the world, including in countries such as Australia, Colombia, Spain and the USA. His international experience has seen him coach at the Yenera tennis club in Barcelona, as well as spend 13 years in Cali, Colombia. Here Hollman ran his own academy called Samitenis and was also the high-performance coach at Zaverian University.
Hollman has also seen great success as a player. From 11 to 17 years of age, Hollman was in the National Colombian tour, reaching top 10 in under 12’s, under 14’s and under 16’s. From 17 – 21 years of age, Hollman competed in ITF tournaments, such as future changes and satellites. Hollman then moved on to compete in the University tour in Colombia, consistently placing first and second position qualifying to the National finals.
As a Coach, Hollman enjoys being on the court with players seeing them work hard and watching how much they improve day by day doing the things that they have previously been unable to do. Hollman is great at challenging his players to reach further and get the best out of themselves and their abilities.
Outside of coaching, Hollman enjoys going to the movies, going to the beach, riding his bike and going to the gym.
Linda Kelly
SENIOR COACH
Qualification – Tennis Australia Club Professional
Linda is a seasoned tennis coach who has successfully operated in the Victorian Tennis industry for 35 years. This success has also been translated internationally in England, Spain, USA & Fiji. During the last 35 year Linda has not only become one of Victoria’s leading tennis coaches but has also developed a tennis services business which incorporates all of her skills and networks. One of her greatest skills is to identify with people of all ages and ‘get into their world’ while maintaining high technical standards and a fun and enjoyable approach to the game. As an effective leader of people her effervescent personality is infectious and she uses this to focus around events and tasks so she can be relied on to achieve excellent performance from both herself and others. She has a passion to succeed in every endeavour and a ‘can do’ attitude which brings with it results rather than simply a whole lot of activity.
Calum Bennett
SENIOR Coach
Qualification – Tennis Australia Junior Development
Calum has been playing tennis on and off since he was 5 years of age. He has played in most levels of the Australian tennis systems, reaching his highest ranking at the age of 14 before taking a break from the sport. Calum has been coaching for 3-4 years now and has worked for three different companies along the way (Box Hill being the latest of the three!) picking up new skills along the way. Calum enjoys coaching as he knows that he can help to shape kids lives and their enjoyment for tennis, and honestly, can’t imagine much to be more rewarding!
SHIYING LI (POLLY)
Senior COACH
Qualification – Tennis Australia Club Professional
HU TAO
Senior Coach
Qualification – Tennis Australia Junior Development
Jasper Diep
Assistant Coach
QUALIFICATION – Tennis Australia COMMUNITY COACH
Jasper has played tennis for 7 years and has grown a great love for the sport. Starting his tennis journey at Cranross Tennis Club, Jasper has been training since 2014 and continually getting coaching to improve himself as a player. As a coach, Jasper started his coaching journey in 2021, completing a Community Coaching Course. He believes that everyone learns better when they are enjoying themselves.
ken wang
ASSISTANT COACH
QUALIFICATION – Tennis Australia TRAINEE COACH
Ken has been coaching beginner to intermediate level players for many years for both kids and adults. He’s an accomplished Tennis Coach with a proven track record of helping players vary their abilities to help improve their technique and overall game strategy. An experienced instructor, with a passion for coaching others, and watching them climb the ladder of success. Adept at helping others to understand and practice the basic fundamentals of Tennis as well as the most up-to-date game strategies and techniques. Ken can communicate with clients in both English and mandarin.
Eduardo Salinas
Assistant Coach
Qualification – Tennis Australia Community Coach
I have been playing tennis for over 10 years. I love the sport because it’s social and also technical – you can never stop learning to improve your game. What’s interesting too is that technology in equipment and techniques are always changing in this sport.
I have coached in two tennis clubs, but for fun have taught tennis to my friends for a couple of years given my passion for the sport. I have completed the Tennis Australia Community Coaching Course and will soon start my Tennis Australia Junior Development Course.
I’ve played for over 10 years and I’m currently participating in a social competition in Melbourne. Previously I competed in competitions in Chile as well as receiving private coaching myself in my first two years of learning tennis.
It’s very rewarding to see a student improve through my coaching and seeing how grateful they are. I’m best at helping players with technical movement, which is crucial in tennis, putting focus on correct contact point, rotation and position to the ball.
Tim Wilson
Assistant COACH
Qualification – Tennis Australia Community Coach
Hi there, I’m Tim, one of the tall coaches, this fortunate gene allows me to have a big serve and big levers. The main reason why I love tennis is because it’s a sport that you can always improve your game, whilst also being able to grow as a person through certain mental and physical challenges.
I have played tennis since I was 5 years old, and I began playing domestic competition at the age of 9 all at Box Hill Tennis Club. This year is my 4th year of coaching and after two crazy years I’m looking forward to staying on court and helping the next generation of super stars along to grand slam glory.
The things I enjoy the most about coaching are meeting new people, getting to work with such talented kids whilst watching them grow and prosper as tennis players and I love working alongside the amazing FDT coaching team they really are a great group of people, which allows me to coach with a big smile.
Outside of coaching I adore and passionately follow AFL Football; I love footy because of its competitive nature and rich history amongst Aussie society. In addition, AFL also provides me with many analogies that I can adopt into my lessons while coaching. I look forward to seeing you all out on court soon.
Laurent Phansavath
ASSISTANT COACH
Qualification – Tennis Australia Community Coach
Laurent Phansavath is originally from France but now calls Australia home. Laurent is experienced in delivering Hot Shots, Junior Squads, and Junior & Adult Private Lessons and will teach at our Box Hill & Balwyn Park venues.
Will Sims
Assistant Coach
Qualification – Tennis Australia Community Coach
Will Sims has been a student with FD Tennis for a number of years and currently plays Open Rubbers 3 for Box Hill TC and has represented the ERT in the AJL. Will will be taking Hot Shots Classes at BHTC.
Tomas Peñalba Arias
ASSISTANT COACH
Nick Bowers
ASSISTANT COACH
Nick has been a keen tennis player since he was 5 years old and has played in numerous club competitions and tournaments. He currently represents his club in Tennis Victoria Pennant. Nick’s passion for tennis has led to coaching with three different businesses since 2017, as well as holding club committee and competition convenor roles. On court, Nick has a sharp eye for technique, a mind for strategy, and recognises the importance of teamwork. He is always striving to help students improve to be the best they can be, while also having fun along the way!
KRISTINE Zhao
ASSISTANT COACH
QUALIFICATION – Tennis Australia COMMUNITY COACH
Charlie Quach
ASSISTANT COACH
QUALIFICATION – Tennis Australia COMMUNITY COACH
Charlie has been playing tennis for upwards of 6 years and is an active member of the Box Hill Tennis Club. Beginning as a student of FD Tennis, over the past few years he has been involved in junior development as both a Junior Soccer Coach through the Mini Roos program, and a Referee for Football Victoria. Charlie seeks to engage students with their natural desire to have fun, whilst honing their tennis skills and techniques. Charlie is the current Junior Singles champion for Box Hill Tennis Club and plays Rubbers 1 in the Eastern Region Tournament.
Chris Cheng
ASSISTANT COACH
QUALIFICATION – Tennis Australia COMMUNITY COACH
Chris started playing tennis at the age of 7 and has now been coaching for 6 years. He has achieved the status of junior national doubles champion multiple times in U16 and U18 and has consistently ranked within the top 3 in China. He was lucky enough to participate in the 2012 London Olympic Games as a hitting partner for Li Na and Zheng Jie.
This journey has shaped his commitment to the sport, making him not only a player but also a dedicated coach. Chris’s coaching style reflects his values of creativity, reliability, and unwavering passion for nurturing talent. He strives to push boundaries, help players break through their limits, and achieve their personal bests.
When he is not on the court, Chris enjoys collecting sneakers and going on road trips. These passions remind him of the importance of balance and exploration in life. Let’s work together to unlock your potential and rewrite your tennis story.
Box Hill
Alexei Demajo
HOLLMAN PINZON
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Hu Tao
Sam Day
Tim Wilson
Box Hill Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
HOLLMAN PINZON
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Hu Tao
Sam Day
Tim Wilson
Box Hill Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
HOLLMAN PINZON
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Hu Tao
Assistant Coach
Sam Day
Tim Wilson
Balwyn Park Tennis Club
Alexei Demajo
Head Coach
HOLLMAN PINZON
RAV SALELKAR
Calum Bennet
Hu Tao
Assistant Coach