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 Why Choose MITS

MITS coaches have proven for over 25 years that they can grow, nurture and produce high performance results in all athletes and set them on the right pathway to success. Our staff experiences combined had involvement with 15 Top 100 players on both the WTA and ATP Tours as well as over 15 Top 100 ITF Juniors, alongside Davis Cup, Federation Cup, Hopman Cup and Grand Slams.

Our Aim is to provide a disciplined and challenging training enviroment that will empower all players to maximize their potential in tennis and life.

Meet the Team

  • Michael Baroch

    FOUNDER

    The founder of the Melbourne International Tennis School and director of coaching, Michael began his tennis journey under the tuition of one of the world's greatest coaches of all time, Tony Roche. Michael now heads the company which has a base in Melbourne, Singapore and Laos, and mentors his staff of over 20 coaches of which have all developed under the MITS philosophy, a prerequisite for coaching in his organisation.

    Top Experiences

    ● Hitting partner for Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker & Stefan Edberg ● Former coach of Maria Sharapova & Mark Philippoussis ● Former coach of Vietnamese and Chinese Davis Cup Teams

    Top Qualification

    ● Tennis Australia Level 3 High Performance

  • Marc Sophoulis

    HEAD OF TENNIS PERFORMANCE

    After injury cut short a playing career in 2001, Marc turned his hand to becoming a career coach. Under the guidance of his mentor Michael Baroch, Marc spent 6 years studying the game before completing his coaching qualifications. Currently heading the team of coaches at The MITS base in Melbourne, Marc also mixes his coaching repertoire with an assistant coaching role at the Richmond Football clubs VFL team, as well as his role as a Learning Facilitator for Tennis Australia's coaching courses

    Top Experiences

    ● Coaching Excellence Development Coach of the Year Victoria 2023. ● Assistant Coach at Richmond Football Club VFL. ● Coach of Dane Propoggia, Anastasia Rodionova & Arina Rodionova. ● Recognised as top 3 Talent Development Coaches in Australia (2013 & 2014)

    Top Qualification

    ● Tennis Australia Level 3 High Performance

  • Mikallie Baroch

    DIRECTOR, HEAD OF OPERATIONS AND PERFORMANCE COACH

    The daughter of director Michael Baroch, Mikallie has grown up with a tennis racquet in her hand. A highly skilled junior player, she has represented her state and country on multiple occasions. Now a coach since the age of 18, she embraces her role as a mentor for aspiring female athletes within the academy.

    Mikallie’s coaching is driven by her deep passion for player development and her keen eye for the game—not only from a technical and tactical standpoint but also through the lens of strength and conditioning, movement efficiency, and overall athletic performance. Her holistic approach ensures that athletes develop not just skill and strategy but also the physical foundation necessary to excel on the court. With a strong commitment to empowering the next generation, she combines expertise, experience, and genuine care to help players reach their full potential.

    Top Experiences

    ● Hitting partner for Monqiue Adamczak & Maria Sharapova at the age of 14. ● Media Player Liaison for the Vietnamese Davis Cup Team Former Head Coach at Maribyrnong Sports Academy ● Head Coach for Girls' First Tennis at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. ● Worked at various ATP Challenger and WTA events as a Player Liaison ● Dedicated mentor for aspiring female athletes, fostering their growth within the academy

    Top Qualifications

    ● Tennis Australia Club Professional Level 2 Coach ● ASCA Level 2 Strength and Conditioning Coach ● Certificate III & IV in Fitness ● Bachelor in Business Marketing

  • Mitchell Baroch

    DIRECTOR, HEAD OF OPERATIONS AND PERFORMANCE COACH

    Mitchell, son of MITS Director Michael Baroch, is one of Victoria's up and coming coaches for both tennis and soccer. At the age of 21, has already been coaching for many years now and has developed a philosophy that is in line with that of MITS as a collective. He is the head coach at our Development Centre, Maidstone Tennis Club, leading the way for developing players for our High Performance Centre’s. Mitchell possesses a very open minded approach to coaching, constantly looking for new ways and ideas to develop his players while maintaining core principles throughout.

    Top Experiences

    ● Head Coach at Maidstone Tennis Club ● Coaching staff for Elite Squads at MITS Tennis

    Top Qualifications

    ● Bachelor of Psychology ● Tennis Australia Level 1 Junior Development ● Cert IV in Sports Coaching

  • Aidan Fitzgerald

    HIGH PERFORMANCE COACH

    Aidan is a Tennis Australia qualified Level 3 High Performance Coach with extensive experience working with both national and international level athletes. He has owned his business and been the head coach of Giant Tennis in Bendigo for over 7 years and has coached a wide range of elite players, including ATP- ranked athletes such as Josh Charlton (ATP Singles 950, Doubles 188) and Victorian State Champion Willow Kelly.

    Across his career, Aidan has guided players to U.S. collegiate scholarships, ITF and ATP rankings, and national championship titles. His coaching achievements have been recognised with multiple awards, including Tennis Victoria Coach of the Year (2020) and Tennis Coaches Association of Victoria Rising Star Award (2013).

    Top Qualifications:

    ● Tennis Australia Level 3 High Performance Coach

    Top Experiences:

    ● Representing Vic Country as Head Coach at the 2026 Australian Nationals

    ● Coach of Josh Charlton (current ATP player)

    ● 2020 Tennis Victoria Coach of the Year

  • Lucas Vuradin

    PERFORMANCE COACH

    Lucas is a dedicated and passionate coach who caters to all ages and skill levels. With experience at some of Melbourne’s largest and most well-regarded tennis centres, he has developed a strong foundation in player development. Currently, he works with an ITF Top 100 Junior player and another ranked inside the Top 250, opportunities that have taken him overseas to support their growth on the international circuit. His ability to guide high-performance athletes while also fostering a love for the game in developing players makes him a well-rounded and engaging coach.

    With a natural enthusiasm and deep love for the sport, Lucas creates a positive and motivating training environment. He has a strong understanding of game tactics, opponent analysis, and building a solid work ethic, helping players develop both their technical skills and competitive mindset. His calm and supportive approach ensures that every player feels confident, challenged, and inspired to reach their full potential.

    Top Experiences

    ● ATP Singles Ranking: 839 at just 20 years old ● Australian U14’s World Junior Teams representative ● Australian Junior Davis Cup Team member

    Top Qualifications

    ● Tennis Australia Club Professional Coach (Level 2)

  • Benjamin Divoli

    PERFORMANCE COACH

    Ben brings a unique skill set to coaching, combining his background in both tennis and football with a deep understanding of sports science and athletic development. With seven years of coaching experience, he has developed a strong passion for teaching the fundamentals of the game while also focusing on strength and conditioning to enhance players' overall performance. His ability to develop athletes both on the court and in the gym allows him to provide a well-rounded approach to coaching. Ben takes pride in creating an engaging and supportive environment, helping players build confidence, improve their technique, and develop the physical attributes needed for success in tennis.

    Top Experiences

    ● Represented NSJTA at a competitive level for over five years ● Won a Pennant Flag for his junior tennis club ● Captain of his football team for three years

    Top Qualifications

    ● Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science ● Tennis Australia Junior Development Coach (Level 1)

  • Jasmin Iaquinto

    PERFORMANCE COACH

    Jasmin is a Tennis Australia Club Professional coach with extensive experience across both grassroots and performance coaching. She has worked alongside some of the best female coaches in the country, including during elite development blocks in Brisbane and Canberra, and has also been recognised for her contributions to the industry by receiving the TCAV Assistant Coach of the Year.

    Jasmin brings a broad skillset to MITS, including certification through Blind Sports Australia to deliver Blind & Vision Impaired Tennis Programs, and was selected to lead this program on Rod Laver Arena during the Australian Open—a career highlight. Her coaching philosophy is deeply grounded in building strong community connections, creating inclusive and welcoming environments, and positively impacting players both on and off the court.

    Jasmin is passionate about working with all ages and levels of the game—from hot shots and beginner players right through to competitive athletes. She is excited to continue growing her coaching career within the MITS system and to be surrounded by some of Victoria’s best coaching talent.

    Top Experiences

    ● ⁠Leading the Blind & Vision Impaired Program during the Aus Open on Rod Laver Arena ● ⁠Receiving TCAV Assistant Coach of the Year ●⁠ ⁠Received the TA Coach Connect Scholarship for Brisbane and Canberra Development Trips ●⁠ ⁠2 x TA Women in Tennis Scholarship Recipient

    Top Qualifications

    ●⁠ ⁠Tennis Australia Level 2 Club Professional ●⁠ ⁠Blind Sports Australia - Blind & Vision Impaired Tennis Program Certified

  • Lily Koleski

    ASSISTANT COACH

  • William Sophocli

    ASSISTANT COACH

  • Ario Akbari

    ASSISTANT COACH

"Don't count the things you do, but instead do the things that count and increase the value in which your tennis means to you"

- MITS Tennis

Programs

Find the right pathway for your tennis journey.

At MITS, every program is purpose-built to provide the right level of coaching, challenge and progression. Whether you're playing recreationally or pursuing high-performance competition, our experienced coaching team is here to help you achieve your goals.

  • Early childhood program that focuses on fun-teaching students how to understand and use their body. The basis of our activities is through Functional Perceptual Motor Skills (FPMS), combining them with modified equipment to create a fun and engaging learning experience.

  • Our full time program is available for high performance and tour level players. A dedicated coach will train, travel, manage and consult for those looking to pursue professional pathways in tennis. They will obtain a personalised program for what their training weeks will look like as well things like tactical & technical analysis.

  • Players get to learn the sport in a social environment. From group, private and semi-private, our adult classes provide a way for players to put their learning into practice with coaches and other players. This class ranges from beginners, intermediate to even casual.

Explore Tennis Programs

Contact Us For Enquiry

Book A Session

See You On The Court

 

Maribyrnong Sports Academy

Maribyrnong College
River Street Maribyrnong

  • World-Class Facilities

  • 6 Flood lit hard courts

  • Indoor and Outdoor Running Tracks

  • State of the art Gym, including free weights, machines and cardio room

  • Indoor Stadium including Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, Offices

  • Lecture rooms, classrooms, Offices, Boardroom

 

Hillside Tennis Club

Community Hub
Hillside Tennis Club

● Premier Community Tennis Club

● 6 LED-lit synthetic grass courts

● Professional coaching for all ages and abilities

● Junior and senior competition pathways

● Modern clubhouse and welcoming community atmosphere

● Located within Parkwood Green Recreation Reserve

● Affiliated with Tennis Victoria

Website link:

https://play.tennis.com.au/MaidstoneTennisClub

Check our other MITS team in
Australia

Need more training to build strength and agility? MITS provides a holistic fitness regime to build the best potential our of you. MITS pride in having certified and experienced trainers to lead our respective sports team.