WHO WE ARE
Global Tennis Academy (GTA), established in Abu Dhabi, UAE, excels in tennis management and operations, offering premier tennis lessons, coaching, and instruction. GTA stands as the leading tennis academy in Abu Dhabi, distinguished by its extensive membership, top-tier tennis players, well-maintained tennis courts, and a team of professional coaches.
Our professional tennis coaches are highly qualified, holding official certifications from International Federations. They undergo rigorous training in GTA’s proprietary methodology and standards before commencing their roles. Choose GTA for the finest tennis academy experience in Abu Dhabi.
To introduce tennis to a larger population in Abu Dhabi. GTA will improve the quality of life, health, habits, character, and spirit through joyful sports activities.
- To teach tennis in such a way that students become independent of their coaches. Consequently, they can play throughout their lives with friends and family, and maintain a fun healthy lifestyle.
- To improve the culture of sports.
- To instill ethics, values, character, and discipline through sports.
- To prioritize friendship, partnership, sportsmanship, competition.
- To sustain profitability over a long period of time.
Patrick Wong
Vasja and Sasa are the real mentors, trainers, coaches, and friends. They coached me to win ITF tournaments and throughout my college career, and beyond. Go beyond. GTA rocks!
Experience
Clubs
Hudayriyat Island Abu Dhabi, Aberdeen Marina Club Hong Kong, Kings Langley London, The Players Club Charleston USA, Bollettieri Tennis Academy USA, Raynolds Plantation Atlanta USA, Carmel Valley Ranch California USA.
Educational Institutions
Repton School, New York University, Campbell University, Cranleigh, Sheikh Zayed Private Academy, American Community School...
Hotels&Resorts
Jumeirah Beach Hotel UAE, Four Seasons Singapore, Ritz-Carlton Puerto Rico, Radisson Blu Abu Dhabi, One&Only Maldives, Burj Al Arab UAE, Armed Forces Officers' Club UAE, Emirates Palace UAE, Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt Austria, Labriz Hilton Seychelles, Al Bustan Palace Oman, Aparthotel Vucko BiH.
GTA builds tennis programs and facilities from conception to completion, sets up financial and booking systems, monitors performance of programs, ensures positive financial outcome, recruits and trains staff, and provides coaching of highest standards.
GTA integrates in 5* hotels’ operations, trains staff on particular handbooks to meet standards, and assures interdepartmental cooperation for synergy.
Tennis holidays and camps
GTA organizes yearly international and local tennis/sports camps. Other sports include padel, skiing, football, basketball, sailing, horse-riding, hiking, water sports, karting, and motoric parks. Travel organization includes flights, boarding, restaurants, visa requirements, transportation, security.
About the Owners
Mr. Vasja Gorjup
Vasja has been a successful tennis professional in 5-star clubs and resorts around the world. Before establishing GTA in Abu Dhabi, Vasja directed the tennis program at Zayed Sports City for 5 years. Prior to that he was the leading tennis professional at Jumeirah Madinat Al Qasr and Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Vasja has been a successful tennis professional in 5-star clubs and resorts around the world. Before establishing GTA in Abu Dhabi, Vasja directed the tennis program at Zayed Sports City for 5 years. Prior to that he was the leading tennis professional at Jumeirah Madinat Al Qasr and Burj Al Arab in Dubai.
Vasja loves organizing and leading international and local tennis/sports camps and holidays, which he has done over a decade. You would certainly enjoy his tennis coaching, but he could also improve your skiing and sailing skills. Vasja’s charisma and ability to establish great relationships with all students/clients is what makes him the coach-in-demand.
Vasja grew up in former Yugoslavia (Current Slovenia) where he developed various entrepreneurial skills during work in his family’s businesses. One of the most important lessons that he learned is that perseverance and persistence are the key to success, especially when running a private company. He applies this mindset in tennis coaching, which makes his students learn and absorb these important characteristics.
Vasja holds Masters of Business Administration – Innovation Management, and Bachelor of Science in Sports Management awarded by Campbell University in USA and Univerza v Mariboru in Slovenia. Vasja was honored with the Rotary Youth Leadership Award for his excellent skills in the field.
Fun facts about Vasja:
1. Despite the fact that many of Vasja’s friends and family members believed that Vasja would become a great lawyer, he decided to leave the Law School and sell his first car to be able to follow one of his dreams, which was to study and play college tennis in USA.
2. At 18 years of age Vasja was in charge of the Slovenian U15 tennis team, which he led and accompanied to the Youth Olympic Games in Canada.
3. Vasja decided to establish GTA in Abu Dhabi because the academies/companies in which he had previously worked gave him reasons to. He realized that there is a need for tennis professionals to be treated well at work, and that the quality of service to customers can significantly improve. He knew that his partner Sasa felt similarly so they synergized to create the leading tennis academy in Abu Dhabi.
Mr. Sasa Ljumic
Sasa has explored 70 countries and worked as life coach and tennis professional in 15 countries on 5 continents. Sasa has improved lives of many people, including royals, billionaires and underprivileged. What makes him a super coach is his ability to transmit his lucidity to his students/clients, which provide them with
Sasa has explored 70 countries and worked as life coach and tennis professional in 15 countries on 5 continents. Sasa has improved lives of many people, including royals, billionaires and underprivileged. What makes him a super coach is his ability to transmit his lucidity to his students/clients, which provide them with mental antidotes to poisons in the modern world. He is an example that you can live adventurously, fight against any odds, and remain happy despite situations you find yourself in. He applies his life coaching skills in his tennis coaching.
Before becoming a partner at GTA, Sasa honorably served a 5-year tenure in the department of Private Affairs in the Office of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Prior to that Sasa was tennis academy director at Zayed Sports City.
Sasa grew up in former Yugoslavia (Current Bosnia Herzegovina), which he fled as an 11-year-old smuggled refugee to end up in Sweden. As a tennis player he became a 3-time national champion of Sweden, and Bosnia Herzegovina upon return to his homeland.
Sasa holds Master of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Arts awarded by Florence Design Academy in Italy, and Harvard University and Campbell University in USA. Sasa was honored with three Presidential Awards for his academic achievements in USA, and $250,000 athletic scholarship to represent his university as tennis player and coach.
Fun Facts about Sasa:
1. Sasa became a professional tennis coach (certified by the Swedish Tennis Federation) at age of 16 so that he could legally work and earn for his own tennis lessons with better coaches. Before school at 4-6am he would distribute ads and magazines to earn more for tournament fees. He particularly chose blocks without elevators so that he would strengthen his legs using stairs. That helped him to become a better tennis player.
2. Sasa died and came back to life twice. In his words: “Once you come back to life you are able to perceive life from a different dimension. You are fearless and free like an innocent child”.
3. Upon arrival in Abu Dhabi in 2012, Sasa’s capital worth was $100. Five years earlier, he had earned and spent (within seven months in Asia as an artist) approximately one million US dollars. Sasa’s moto is: Live adventurously!