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Charissa Balman
Charissa Balman
Professional Head Coach
Professional Head Coach
Charissa Balman is a Tennis South Africa registered professional coach, former international player and highly experienced leader in player development.
Her playing career included competing on the WTA professional circuit before earning tennis scholarships in the United States. She became an All-American and NJCAA Champion at Midland College and later graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, with a BA in Physical Education/Sport Science.
With nearly four decades of coaching experience, Charissa has worked extensively in junior and provincial tennis development. She led the SACS Tennis Academy for 23 years and has coached at Kirstenhof Tennis Academy and Westerford High School.
Today, Charissa runs her tennis academy at Wynberg Lawn Tennis Club, developing players from grassroots through to competitive level.
In 2026, she also became Programme Director of Love Serving Autism South Africa, using tennis to help children and young adults on the autism spectrum develop confidence, communication, motor skills and social connection.
Charissa’s coaching philosophy is simple: develop the player, grow their confidence and create a lifelong love of tennis.
Mike Barwell
Mike Barwell
Professional Head Coach
Professional Head Coach
Mike Barwell is a fully qualified professional tennis coach with extensive playing and coaching experience in South Africa and internationally.
His coaching career has taken him across Cape Town, Australia, Germany, England and Ireland, giving him experience working with players from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and playing abilities.
As a competitive player, Mike represented Western Province and went on to represent South Africa at junior, senior and masters level. This experience gives him a strong understanding of both the technical and competitive demands of the game.
Mike coaches players of all ages and levels, offering private, semi-private and group coaching. His approach places particular emphasis on tactics, spatial awareness and understanding the court, helping players make better decisions during matches rather than focusing on technique alone.
Whether working with a beginner learning the fundamentals or an experienced player looking to sharpen their match play, Mike focuses on practical development that players can take directly onto the court.
As a coach at Wynberg Lawn Tennis Club, Mike is passionate about helping players improve their skills, confidence and enjoyment of the game. Special coaching rates are available to WLTC members.
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