About Beka
Quick Facts about Beka:
- USPTR/USPTA Certified Professional;
- PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry) Certified Professional;
- Coaching Tennis for over 30 years;
- Founded Beka Tennis Academy in Los Angeles, CA – 2001;
- Opened Beka Tennis Academy in Florida in 2021;
- Relocated Florida to Connecticut - 2022;
- National Tennis Champion of Georgia in singles and doubles;
- Deputy Chief Trainer at Dinamo Tennis Club in Tbilisi, Georgia;
- Head Coach of the International Tennis Academy in San Jose, CA;
- Participant of major tournaments around the world;
- Coached top National, and International Juniors;
- Coached a top 50 ATP professional Irakli Labadze (World No. 42), Who Defeated Andre Agassi (World No. 1) I Carlos Moya (World No. 1) | James Blake (World No. 4) I Gastón Gaudio (World No.5) I Mardy Fish (World No.7)
- Trained Hollywood celebrities for various movie, television and commercial roles;
- Bachelor of Public Relations - Georgian Technical University;
- Fluent in English, Russian, Georgian and familiar with Spanish.
Biography
Beka Sikharulidze was born on August 5, 1978, in Tbilisi, Georgia, into an artistic family. His father, Givi Sikharulidze, is one of Georgia’s most prominent actors, writers, and choreographers. Beka’s mother, Rusudan Sikharulidze, was a doctor, who provided the nurturing strength of their creative family.
From a young age, Beka excelled in sports, particularly tennis. By 13, he had already made a mark as an accomplished tennis player, participating in international tournaments and eventually becoming the Georgian National Junior Champion in both singles and doubles. At 19, he also earned a black belt in Goju-Ryu, a full-contact karate style.
In 1998, Beka moved to Los Angeles, California, where he seized the opportunity to build a new life. Certified as a professional by both the USPTA and USPTR, he founded the Beka Tennis Academy in 2001, coaching top 50 ATP professional – Irakli Labadze and highly ranked national and international juniors.
Simultaneously, Beka nurtured his long-held passion for film and acting. His early fascination with cinema led him to study acting under Gregory Berger-Sobeck at the Berg Studio in Hollywood. He later refined his craft with renowned acting coach Ivana Chubbuck. A member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) since 2004, Beka has appeared in numerous films across the U.S. and Europe. In 2009, he expanded his artistic pursuits by studying directing at the New York Film Academy, followed by further training at UCLA until 2014.
His significant breakthrough in Hollywood came in 2022 with a Steven Soderbergh thriller Kimi (2022) by portraying the Russian hacker, Yuri.
In 2014, Beka launched Beka Film Productions, writing, directing, and producing his first short film, ‘Grandpa’s Debtor’, based on a story by his father. The film achieved international recognition, winning seven international film festival awards. The film has been purchased by the Euro Channel and has been aired for two years in 86 countries worldwide.
In 2019 Beka was appointed as official representative of Georgian Film Academy in USA and Canada.
In 2022, Beka wrote and directed his debut feature film, ‘From Life to Life’, which premiered in September 2023. The film has already garnered 12 awards and 8 nominations at international film festivals.
In September 2024, Beka Sikharulidze was honored with a Congressional Proclamation Award by US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries for his distinguished achievements and received a Citation Award from the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams.
Beka holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations and is fluent in Georgian, English, and Russian languages.