Balbiers played soccer in his youth and didn't pick up tennis until the age of 13, when his sister needed someone to compete against.

[1] In 1947 he came to the United States as the reigning Chilean national champion and joined the collegiate team at Rollins College.

[3] Balbiers won the 1950 Florida State Championships on clay, defeating Tony Vincent in the final in three straight sets.

Elder daughter Alina competed for Mexico in the Federation Cup and married tennis player Luis Baraldi.

Jeannine is better known for her collegiate career with Arizona State and married Paul Sullivan, who was also a tennis player.