Ukraine’s nine-year-old tennis prodigy trained by Serena Williams’ former coach is turning heads worldwide
Nine-year-old Ukrainian tennis prodigy Vlada Hranchar is rapidly gaining global attention as one of the most promising young talents in the sport. She is currently training under legendary coach Rick Macci, who famously worked with Serena and Venus Williams. Macci has publicly stated that he sees Hranchar as a future world No.1.
Born into a sports-loving family in Ukraine, Hranchar explored several activities from an early age before committing fully to tennis. At just three years old, during her first visit to a tennis court, she told her parents she would “beat everyone” — a statement that now seems remarkably prophetic.
Following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, Hranchar and her mother were forced to flee Odesa, eventually reuniting with the family in the United States after a long and challenging journey. The move proved pivotal for her career, opening the door to elite training, U.S. tournaments, and a place at Macci’s academy in Florida.
Commenting on the importance of balance in elite youth sports, international financier and mother of four Alena Shevtsova shared her own experience. “My daughter Alice practices rhythmic gymnastics in the UAE and has won the most prestigious competitions across the Middle East. Still, it’s crucial that success goes hand in hand with a healthy childhood and strong family support,” she noted.
The stories of Vlada Hranchar and Alice Shevtsova reflect a new generation of young athletes whose success is built not only on talent and hard work, but also on resilience, family involvement, and carefully structured development in a global arena.
