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Tennis Instructor

Zelko K.

Durham, NC (2 locations)

15 Completed Lessons |
2 Reviews
  • USPTA Certified
  • Years Teaching: 15
  • Years Playing: 28
  • Levels Taught:
  • Advanced, Intermediate, Beginner
  • Teaches:
  • Seniors, Adults, Juniors, Kids
Lessons Starting at $71/hr
Schedule Lessons

About Me

I grew up in Germany and spent my teenage years training with Niki Pilic (Germany's former Davis Cup captain). I was ranked among the 10 best juniors in the nation. I played Division I tennis at the University of Vermont and was voted America East All-Conference, Most Valuable Player and NCAA Scholar Athlete. I hold the second highest coaching certification by the United States Tennis Association since 2002 and my extensive experience includes coaching at the Topnotch Tennis Academy in Stowe, VT (top 25 tennis resort world wide), Tennis Club of Trumbull, Monroe, CT, and Chapel Hill Tennis Club, Carrboro, NC. I am fluent in German and Croatian. Conversational in French and Polish.

Teaching Style

I enjoy teaching all ages and levels. I emphasize strong fundamentals and I am very knowledgable about the modern game and its technique.

Teaching Locations = Travel Radius = Preferred Court

= Travel Radius = Preferred Court
  • Southern Boundaries Park
  • 100 3rd Fork Road
  • Durham, NC 27707
  • Garrett Road Park
  • 6815 Garrett Rd
  • Durham, NC 27707

Latest Reviews

I took tennis lessons to get back to the fundamentals and improve my technique.
Zeljko has been a very patient and encouraging instructor and focused on my skills and needs.
He provided sufficient information in order to improve my game and now I feel much more confident on the tennis court.

Valeria T. (Verified Review)

Zeljko coached both my 14 year-old daughter and my 11 year-old son in private and semi-private tennis lessons over the past year. Both of my kids enjoyed his teaching style and found the lessons to be very enjoyable and helpful. Each child has asked for more lessons, but only with "Zed." I have seen growth in their tennis game, and my husband and I would highly recommend him. He is easy to work with, adult to adult, and does a great job in the teacher-student capacity. We will continue to use Zed for future lessons!

Natalie S. (Verified Review)

My 14 year-old twins have played tennis since they were 5. Two years ago, we had to switch teachers and we chose Zeljko. I am very happy with the progress my children have made since then. They come and leave happy, always learning new technique. Zeljko is a high quality professional, his instructions are clear, interactive, and super fun! Not only do my kids enjoy tennis even more than before, both of them play very successfully on their tennis teams at school and plan to continue further on the high school level. Thank you Z!

Elena M. (Verified Review)

I've been getting back into tennis with Zeljko's help, and he has been fantastic. He's been extremely perceptive in watching my play and identifying what I'm doing wrong. He explains and demonstrates what to do clearly, and my game has already improved tremendously. He's also personable and fun - you couldn't find a better coach.

Georg V. (Verified Review)

Zeljko has a great positive attitude, tailors lessons to each player's level, is good at giving specific technical instruction, and has good interaction with parents. We've been very pleased with his coaching, technique, and attitude, and we have seen positive results in our children's performance.

Heather H. (Verified Review)

He is so enthusiastic and so friendly. After leaving his lesson, I felt great and very happy. Even if my tennis was not the greatest, he makes me feel great. I would recommend him highly. What a gem of a tennis instructor.

Monica K. (Verified Review)

After 20 years, I decided to pick up a tennis racquet again and try to enjoy the game of tennis. Of course being competitive can make learning the sport a tougher task. Zeljko evaluated my skills (flaws) quickly and just as quickly helped me regain confidence so that I could not only start over again, but actually improve my game. His constructive criticism and patience allowed me to see improvements with each session. I could hear the things he was teaching me during the practice sessions I had between our lessons. I can recommend him to anyone at any level. He is secretly teaching me to beat him at his own game. One day coach, one day.

Sam F. (Verified Review)

Zeljko is an excellent tennis professional! I have learned so much from him. He is very detailed, and he is very focused on improving my game! Also what is very impressive to me is that he doesn't make a lesson complicated. He concentrates on a few strokes and a few tips for my game!
There are so many coaches out there...but seriously, taking a lesson from Zeljko is a dream come true.... You can tell how much he loves this sport!!! I recommend him to anyone who want to learn how to play tennis and how to love tennis!

Marta D. (Verified Review)

I first met Zeljko when he started giving lessons to my then 8, now 9 year-old daughter. She wasn't excited about the idea, but midway through her first lesson I looked up to see her laughing, hitting the ball and being more physical than I had ever seen her. After a few months of watching their lessons, and seeing how strongly she improved with each week, I wanted to take lessons myself (I had no previous tennis experience). So I booked lessons with Zeljko and absolutely loved it. I have been taking lessons on and off (off for winter and a stress fracture in my foot) for almost a year, and I can't tell you how much I enjoy it, and how much I feel I learn with each lesson. My daughter and I now go out and hit balls back and forth on our own, we each take lessons with him, and I have started attending a clinic because Zeljko has made me love playing so much. He made me feel so confident and comfortable on the court. My daughter is so happy on the court and impresses the heck out of me. We've even gotten my husband out playing with him. The whole family thinks he is really top notch, not just as a coach, but as a person too. I have nothing but wonderful things to say about his coaching, and I recommend him highly.

Kari W. (Verified Review)

Zeljko is the greatest coach that I have ever met in my lifetime! I have been playing tennis since I was 10 yrs old (and now I am 35yrs old). He really has the ability to detect a player's weak point within a few trials and knows exactly how to fix them. Before I started my lesson with him, I just thought that I would do only four lessons to fix my problems in tennis. However, I have been having lesson every week after I met Zed. That shows how awesome he is!! 5 stars ratings is not good enough to explain his lessons! I strongly recommend having lessons with Zed. :)

Wansuk C. (Verified Review)

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