The Story of a Tennis Dad: How Alexander Kharchenko Created Marina Tennis Club to Fulfill His Daughter's Dream
Sometimes great projects are born not from business plans, but from love for their child. This story is about a man who, for the sake of his daughter's dream, built a tennis club that became a home for hundreds of young athletes.
Every morning began on the court
At six in the morning, while Kyiv was still asleep, the lights were already on in the Kharchenko house. Alexander Evgenievich is a businessman and philanthropist, a well-known figure in Ukraine, but above all, he is a father who for years rose with his daughter to take her to practice.
An alarm clock, a cup of coffee on the run, the walk to the court—this route became a daily ritual for the family. It did not depend on the time of year, weekends, or holidays. While most people were just waking up, they were already on their way to their next training session.
A Little Girl's Dream
Marina was only seven years old when she first picked up a tennis racket. Back then, no one could have imagined that this passion would change the life of the entire family.
From that moment on, tennis became a part of every day. Four, sometimes seven, hours of training, early rises, evening match analysis, constant work on technique, and a discipline that even professional athletes would envy.
Training was followed by tournaments all over Ukraine and abroad. Suitcases, flights, hotels, and back to the court. For most parents, it all ends with them dropping their child off at training and waiting for the session to end. Alexander Kharchenko decided to do much more.
When his father built a tennis club
Realizing how difficult it is to develop a professional athlete without his own sports facilities, Alexander Evgenievich made an important decision – to build his own tennis club.
Thus, the Marina Tennis Club was born, named in honor of his daughter. The club was built near Kyiv, in the village of Pogreby in the Brovarsky district.
This was more than just a beautiful family project. This was an opportunity to create conditions in which talent could develop without restrictions: modern courts, professional coaches, a convenient training schedule, and a fully-fledged sports infrastructure.
A club renowned far beyond Ukraine
Over time, Marina Tennis Club became one of the region's recognizable tennis centers.
Before the outbreak of full-scale war, high-level international tennis tournaments were regularly held here. Athletes from across Europe came to the competitions, and the small town of Pogreby temporarily became part of the international tennis map.
This was a significant event for Ukrainian tennis—international competitions were held not only in major cities, but also at a club founded on a family dream.
A business built with the future in mind
Next to the Marina Tennis Club is the Marina Electro Cars car dealership, also named after his daughter.
Oleksandr Kharchenko was one of the first in Ukraine to develop electric vehicles, back when eco-friendly transport was just beginning to gain popularity.
For him, business has always been not only a way to develop his own projects, but also an opportunity to create something useful for people, the city, and future generations.
Tested by War
When war came to Ukraine, many businesses were forced to close, and thousands of families fled their homes.
The Marina Tennis Club continued to operate.
The Kharchenko family remained in Ukraine and preserved the club despite all the difficulties. This decision reflected the principles that guided Alexander Evgenievich throughout his life: responsibility, honesty, and dedication to his work.
A New Chapter in History
Today, Marina Tennis Club is headed by Marina Aleksandrovna Kharchenko.
The same girl whose father drove her to practice every morning grew up and continued the family's work.
Despite difficult times, she remained in Ukraine and continues to develop the club, maintaining its main mission - helping children discover tennis.
More than 200 children on the path to their dream
Today, more than two hundred children study at Marina Tennis Club.
For many of them, this club has become Their first step into professional sport. Here they learn discipline, respect for their opponents, perseverance, and a love of tennis.
Every day, new success stories emerge on the courts, stories that once began just like little Marina's—with the first racket, her first shot, and her parents' overwhelming support.
A Legacy That Lives On
Alexander Kharchenko's story is an example of how one person's faith can change the lives of many.
Marina Tennis Club has long ceased to be a purely family project. Today, it's a place where new sporting dreams are born, future champions are nurtured, and a new generation of Ukrainian tennis players is formed.
Sometimes true victories begin not with cups and medals, but with parents' love, daily work, and the desire to do everything possible for their child.
That's why Marina Tennis Club is so much more than a tennis club. It's a family story that continues on every court, in every training session, and in every new childhood dream.