Sport has always been part of Gorana Stevanovic Sarcevic’s life. Growing up in Serbia with a professional hockey player for a dad, discipline, hard work, and a love of competition were never optional, they were everyday life. Tennis quickly became her passion, and she threw herself into the game, training, competing, and discovering how much sport could shape her.
Since moving to the UAE in 2014, Gorana has become a driving force in Abu Dhabi’s tennis scene. As Head Tennis Coach at Zayed Sports City, she leads programmes, mentors players and coaches, and creates a welcoming environment where athletes can grow and thrive. Balancing coaching, leadership, and motherhood, she brings energy, patience, and passion to every session, helping players succeed on the court and gain confidence off it.
Gorana’s love for sport started early and has only grown stronger over the years. Here’s a closer look at her journey, her day-to-day, and the moments that make coaching and leading in sport so rewarding:
Describe your role
I’m the Head Tennis Coach at Zayed Sports City, and my role is a mix of coaching, leadership, and community building. On court, I help players grow technically, mentally, and emotionally. Off court, I manage programming, guide coaches, plan events, and make sure our tennis community feels supported and inspired. In simple words: I develop people through tennis and create an environment where everyone feels they belong.
How did you get started in sport?
Sport has always been part of my family. My dad was a professional hockey player, so growing up, our whole life was surrounded by training, discipline, and competition. I took my love for sport from him – the passion, the work ethic, the mindset. I tried different sports when I was young, but the moment I picked up a tennis racquet, something clicked. Tennis gave me freedom, confidence, and a place where I could be myself. I started competing, traveling, and slowly the sport became my whole world. That passion naturally led me into coaching, I wanted to pass on the same love for sport that I got from my dad.
What does a typical day look like for you?
My day starts very early. I go to the gym first, that’s my time to wake up and get my head ready. Then I feed my baby, get my daughter ready for school, and once I drop her off, my workday officially begins.From there, I’m on the courts, coaching, supporting my team, planning programmes, and handling all the things that keep the academy running. Between sessions, I’m always doing admin, schedules, planning events, reports, it never really stops, it’s just part of my everyday flow. Afternoons are the busiest with junior groups and private lessons, and by the time the day finishes, I’ve usually done a bit of everything. It’s full, fast, sometimes crazy, but I love the energy and the people I work with.
FIVE QUESTIONS WITH GORANA
Favourite athlete? Roger Federer
Favourite sport to watch? Tennis and basketball
Favourite sport to play or do? Tennis
Dream sporting event you’d love to attend? Roland Garros
Quote to live by? One step at a time, but every day
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about your work?
People think coaching is just feeding balls, but it’s much more. We are teachers, planners, motivators, psychologists, administrators, and sometimes even mediators between kids and parents. There’s also a lot of behind-the-scenes work organizing events, coordinating with departments, managing facilities, and keeping everything safe and professional. It’s a whole world outside the baseline.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
Watching someone grow, not just as a player, but as a person. Seeing a shy child gain confidence, an adult find joy in movement again, or a junior achieve something they never thought possible. Those small breakthroughs, the smiles, the “I did it!” moments… that’s why I do this job.
And what’s the most challenging part?
The most challenging part is balancing everything at the same time. Coaching, planning, dealing with parents, running programmes, supporting my team, and of course, the admin that never ends -it all happens in one day, sometimes in one hour. In this job, things change fast, and you always need to adjust, fix problems, and keep everything running smoothly. Working with so many different people also means different expectations, different personalities, and different needs. It can be a lot to manage, especially on days when the schedule is full and there’s no break. But even when it’s challenging, I still love it because the hard days usually teach me the most.
What’s one project, event, or moment you’re most proud of?
One project I’m really proud of is how we’ve built and grown our junior tennis pathway at Zayed Sports City. When I started, many kids were just beginning their tennis journey, and over time we created a clear structure that helped them grow step by step from Mini Tennis to orange and green ball, and eventually to real competition. Seeing kids go from barely holding a racquet to rallying, winning points, and feeling proud of themselves means a lot to me. For me, the biggest achievement is the community we’ve built. Full courts, happy kids, families supporting each other, and a real love for tennis. That’s what I’m truly proud of.
What excites you most about where sport is heading?
Sport is becoming more inclusive and more community-driven. We’re seeing more women in leadership roles, more girls entering sport confidently, and more families getting active together. Technology is improving performance and participation, and events are becoming more accessible. The region is investing heavily in sport, and it’s exciting to be part of that growth.
Who inspires you, in or outside of sport?
Roger Federer inspires me with his elegance, attitude, and the way he always carried himself , calm, respectful, and timeless. Outside of sport, I’m inspired by mothers who balance work, children, home, and everything in between. Since becoming a mom myself, I understand that strength even more. Women who handle all of that with love and a smile, that’s real inspiration.
What advice would you give to anyone stepping into your role or working in sport in general?
Be patient, stay passionate, and always keep learning. Coaching is not just about drills, it’s about people. Listen more than you speak, respect every player’s journey, and stay flexible in your approach. Sport can be demanding, but if you’re doing it for the right reasons, it will reward you every single day.
