Our Coaches
We are extremely proud of our coaches. Tennis NWT has a wonderful team of qualified coaches who share their love of tennis with children and adults. The coaching team is made up of experienced and qualified coaches all specializing in specific areas to ensure we are able to offer a diverse programme to players.
Tamara Jovic was born and raised in Yellowknife. She started playing tennis when she was 5 years old with her dad (and coach), Nik. She now goes to the University of Calgary and she is completing a Bachelor of Science with a major in chemistry. Tamara plays on the Dinos varsity tennis team. In 2016 she completed the Instructors course, in 2022 she completed her Club Pro 1, and she is now taking Club Pro 2 Course! Aside from tennis, she enjoys playing other sports, going to the gym, and playing piano. She finished her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music in 2019. She participated in the 2015 Western Canada Summer Games in Swimming, 2016 Arctic Winter Games for Table Tennis, and the 2017 Canada Summer Games for tennis. Last year she was the assistant coach at the 2022 Canada Summer Games in Niagara. She is super excited to see what this tennis season has to offer. See you on the courts!
Joan started by being self taught in her early 30’s by playing games with her husband Dennis and other players in Fort Smith at the single tennis court. A group of friends started a tennis club in Fort Smith and have had club tournaments for over 38 years. Joan has been a recreational tennis coach for children and youth for over 20 years in Fort Smith. She is a certified Tennis Canada Instructor. Joan and her husband have participated in the Canada 55+ games in tennis several times, and successfully achieved a bronze medal. Joan has participated in tournaments in Calgary, Edmonton, Grand Prairie, Fort McMurray and even Jamaica.
Anna started playing tennis from a young age in the UK, and has loved it ever since. She especially enjoys working with the young beginners in their first adventures with a tennis racket, and also with the more mature players who want to develop tennis fundamentals. Outside of tennis, Anna loves to spend time outdoors with her huskies and in her work as a a hydrologist.
Ofira Duru was born and raised in Yellowknife, NT. She has participated in both Western and Canada Summer games for tennis. She has been playing tennis in Yellowkinfe for around 9 years now. Ofira practices tennis with the high performance tennis group here in YK. Now that she has her coaching certification she is thrilled to help out with clinics.
Nikhilesh Gohil was born and raised in Yellowknife. He began playing tennis when he was 11 years old after watching Roger Federer, the GOAT, win Wimbledon in 2017. Since then, he has represented Team NT in tennis at the 2019 Western Canada Summer Games and the 2022 Canada Summer Games and in 2023 Nikhilesh became a certified tennis instructor. He is very much looking forward to another great tennis season this summer!
Thorsten has been around sports all his life. Starting with Tennis at 6 years old, a slight detour to Table Tennis and a taking a break from Tennis for many years, he is now back trying to bring this great sport back into the communities of the Northwest Territories.
Nikola exuberates enthusiasm on the tennis court. He has an absolute passion for tennis. He has been instrumental in the growth of the tennis in Yellowknife.
Teresa Martin was born and raised in Yellowknife. She is attending Dalhousie University to pursue a Bachelor of Science. Teresa trains with the High-Performance Tennis Team and has represented the NWT at the 2022 Canada Summer Games as a doubles and singles competitor. Aside from tennis, she also enjoys playing and teaching piano, and in 2023, she finished her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music certification. Teresa has completed her Tennis Instructor certification and is excited for the new tennis season!
Will was born and raised in Yellowknife. He is a racquet sports enthusiast and can be found on the tennis courts in summer, and on the squash and badminton courts when it’s cold outside. Will trains with the High-Performance tennis, squash and ski teams in Yellowknife and is very excited to be joining the tennis coaching team this season!
View Coaching Resources provided by the TPA