COACHING TEAM

Zayed Sports Academy's reputation as having the best sports coaches is because we've earned it - Zayed Sports Academy coaches have high standards to meet. Whether coaching aspiring superstars or family-oriented mums and dads, all of our coaches have proven technical and practical experience. Each tennis coach on our roster holds internationally recognized certification to ensure our players develop solid foundations and proper techniques.

TRAIN UNDER THE BEST TENNIS COACHES IN THE UAE

Abdelrahman Salah

Arabic Tennis Coach

Having always thought football was his favorite sports, Abdel changed his mind at age 8. His interest in tennis was sparked by his older cousin who played with him in the garden and eventually convinced him to become a coach after graduating from university. Since 2012, Abdel has coached in Cairo, including at the prestigious Palm Aroussy Tennis Academy, as well as in Abu Dhabi.

His motivating and technical approach is more concerned with self-improvement than trophies. While he is competent to coach all levels, his favorite thing about being a coach is helping beginners gain confidence, learn proper technique, and eventually succeed in tournaments. As a fan, he enjoys watching his favorite players hit his favorite shot – the straight forehand.

Abdel’s free time is spent going to the gym, playing e-sports, and sharing stories with his loved ones all over the globe.

Nationality: Egypt
Languages: English and Arabic
Location: ACTIVE Al Maryah Island
Ask About: Being too short to ace

Aleksa Dordevic

Tennis Coach

Nationality: Serbian
Languages: English, Serbian
Location: Zayed Sports City

George Kikaleishvili

Tennis Coach

George Kikaleishvili

Tennis Coach

Strong enough to make the Georgian National Team at the age of 8, George is a fierce yet compassionate tennis professional who has played throughout the world. As a coach for more than two decades, he has also earned a number of qualifications from RPT, ITF USPTA and PTCA, as well as an MBA in Sport Management. The strategic side of the sport – game planning, developing and evolution – are what keep him hooked and drove him to turn his childhood favourite sport into a career.

George is active off the tennis court too, often walking or hiking outdoors.

Nationality: Georgian
Languages: English, Russian
Location: ACTIVE, Al Maryah Island
Ask About: His favourite match

GORANA Stevanović Šarčević

Head of Tennis

Gorana’s first tennis lesson was at age 6, and since that time she has proven herself to be incredibly talented in the sport. As a player, she reached No. 7 in Europe, was ranked by WTA, also earning three national championships before becoming a tennis instructor in 2011. Having worked in Germany, Serbia and the UAE, Gorana’s favourite thing about tennis is the feeling of proudly lifting a trophy. This talented female tennis coach is licensed by the Tennis Federation of Serbia.

When she has free time, Gorana can be often found studying to finish her sports degree or spending time with friends.

Nationality: Serbian
Languages: English, Serbo-Croatian
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Her dog, Kan

Mohamed Helmi

Tennis Coach

Mohamed was 10 years old when he took his first tennis lesson and he has been playing ever since. As a junior, he made significant strides, earning several semi-final and final round bids at Egypt’s national tournament. Strong play continued as he worked towards his degree in sport science when Mohamed won singles in the Egyptian University Sports Federation.

Following university, Mohamed became a professional first tennis and proved himself as a strong leader by earning Trainer of the Year accolades for his performance. Throughout his coaching career, Mohamed has earned a number of certifications with international institutes including ITF, GPTCA, USPTA and RPT. He’s also completed a technical workshop with the International Olympic Committee and supported clinics led by superstars including Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Because tennis is fun and challenging, Mohamed continues to grow and commit as both a coach and player.

Scuba diving and working out are among the ways that Mohamed enjoys time off the courts.

Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: What is always in his tennis bag

Omar Mohamed

Tennis Coach

Omar has been involved with tennis for nearly two decades. A coach since 2006, he spent a year working with the South African national team, a stint on the staff of Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy, and developed his U12 team into the Top 10.

In addition to certification from the International Tennis Federation, Omar has a degree in physical education and coaching. He is heavily involved in Special Olympics, coaching the team in 2019 and 2023, and attending numerous trainings to work with special needs athletes.

The variety in tactics is his favorite part of tennis.

Omar enjoys sports in his free time, such as running and watching football matches.

Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Snow City

Renata Rebecca Alfoldi

Tennis Coach

Targeted as a performance tennis player since age 5, Renata’s tennis achievements span decades and continents. As a junior player she won her county’s championship when she was 10 years old and remained a top 10 player until she was 18. Following on this success, she shifted into coaching and became certified by the PTR.

Renata’s work in the UAE has nurtured tennis players at all levels and abilities and never shies away from a challenge. Putting in hard work makes the payoff even more worthwhile, and this is what drives her love of tennis.

Swimming, roller skating, ice skating and family time are Renata’s favourite ways to enjoy her free time.

Nationality: Romanian
Languages: English, Spanish, Romanian
Location: Zayed Sports City, ACTIVE Al Maryah
Ask About: Rod Stewart’s concert

Salma Abdelrahim

Arabic Tennis Coach

As a four-year-old, Salma fell in love with tennis because she thought it was magic. While walking through a local sports club, she watched a tennis ball stay suspended in the air during service and wanted to learn how this trick was done. Her parents happily enrolled her in the sport and while she learned quickly it was not magic, she was hooked on the sport. Before her 16^th birthday, she was already a U-18 top-3 player in Egypt and had ITF points.

Her talent earned her a place in the Division I NCAA competition in the USA where she earned more than a dozen accolades in her conference, a Louisiana All-State Honorable Mention, and some WTA points. After earning a business management degree, she was still not ready to hang her racket and started to pursue a career in coaching by getting PTR certified. She’s since coached in the USA, Egypt, and UAE.

Salma is pretty tennis obsessed and even in her free time you’re likely to find her on the court or watching matches.

Nationality: Egyptian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: Her super strict professor

Sherif Nazir

Arabic Tennis Coach

Once he started playing tennis at 6 years old, Sherif could not be slowed down. A celebrity on his home country’s tennis circuit, Sherif ranked as a top 15 player in his country for his entire time playing, eventually reaching the Number 2 spot in Egypt. He has collected wins on both the ITF and ETF circuits.

Tennis is where Sherif focuses most of his energy, both as an active competitive player and as a coach. His on-court experience combined with coaching qualifications from the ITF and GPTCA have helped him get maximum performance from his players, including several junior players ranked in the Egyptian top three. Watching his players move closer to their goals is a big motivation for Sherif to continue in this career.

In addition to being a great tennis coach, Sherif is a DJ who mixes music in his spare time.

Nationality: Egyptian & Mauritian
Languages: English, Arabic
Location: Zayed Sports City
Ask About: A big recruiting mistake