ROSS SCHOOL TENNIS CENTER
Staff & Coaches
Tennis Center
Ross School’s Tennis coaches are experienced, professional players representing a number of different countries, including Brazil, Portugal, and Italy.
Richele LeSaldo
Director of Ross School Tennis Center
Richele LeSaldo brings more than two decades of international coaching and leadership experience to Ross. A former Barbados #1 female tennis player for over a decade, LeSaldo represented her country in international competition and competed at the highest levels of collegiate tennis at Clemson University, where she was team captain and part of two consecutive NCAA Division I Final Four teams.
Most recently, she served as Director of Tennis at Albany Tennis Academy in Nassau, The Bahamas, where she led all operations and implemented long-term player development plans that resulted in a 100% college scholarship placement rate for graduating athletes. She has coached at all four Grand Slam tournaments and was based at the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy under renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Richele looks forward to building a comprehensive tennis culture that supports students on and off the court. Her goal is to create an environment where every student, regardless of level, feels supported, challenged, and inspired.
Rafalea de Amelida
Rafaela is a 21-year-old Brazilian tennis player who just graduated with a Sports Management degree from PennWest Edinboro. Rafa worked closely with the athletics department at the sports information office and was a student manager for the university’s football team. Her background in tennis includes coaching young athletes with a focus on building strong fundamentals, confidence, and love for the game. She believes in creating a positive, fun, encouraging, and educational environment where every player can improve both technically and mentally.
Federico Mantilla
Born and raised in Colombia, Federico grew up in a tennis family and picked up his first racquet at the age of 8. His passion for the sport carried him to the United States, where he competed at the collegiate level for the University of West Florida’s NCAA Division II men’s tennis team.
Federico has built a career coaching and managing programs at top facilities across Florida, including Mantilla’s Tennis Academy in Orlando, Pensacola Tennis and Pickle, brACE Tennis Academy, and Keene’s Point Tennis. Since 2023, he has also spent his summer seasons coaching at the Meadow Club of Southampton in New York. A PTR-certified professional, he has worked with players of all ages and skill levels—from young juniors to professional athletes—creating tailored training programs, leading clinics, and providing career guidance. With a unique blend of competitive experience, coaching expertise, and a lifelong love for the game, Federico is dedicated to helping each player unlock their full potential on and off the court.
Edoardo Tessaro
Edoardo was born and raised in Italy, where he was a top 30 junior under 12, 14, and 16. He also competed internationally before attending Virginia Tech on a full scholarship, where he played two full seasons of varsity tennis. He graduated in 2016 with an MS in nutrition and exercise. He reached the 46th position of the ITA ranking, led his team to their best ranking in the tennis program’s history (12th in the country), and was awarded ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) third team. Edoardo played on the professional tour, obtaining the ranking of 1400 ATP and competing in international events, including the ATP 250 in Florida. He previously worked as a sparring partner for top 600 WTA Italian player Martina Colmegna, as well as coaching many top junior players there.