Photo by: Sideline Photos, LLC
Women’s Tennis Announces Changes To Coaching Staff
September 11, 2025 | Women's Tennis
The Princeton women's tennis team has made changes to its coaching staff as announced by head coach Elizabeth Johnson
Nika Kukharchuk has joined the Princeton University women's tennis coaching staff as an assistant coach and Sydney Berlin has been promoted to the Cornelia Drake and John Van Ryn Jr. '28 Assistant Coach of Tennis.
Berlin enters her second year with the Tigers after Princeton recorded 10 wins in the 2024-25 season.
"I'm so excited for Sydney," Johnson said. "She's off to a great start in career as a college coach. Her commitment to PWT and Princeton Athletics culture is unique for someone with her tennis experience. We are stronger with her in so many ways so it was important to have her at Princeton in this new role."
Kukharchuk most recently was the assistant women's tennis coach at Columbia from 2022-25. Kukharchuk recruited and coached the Northeast Rookie of the Year who went on to become the US Open Junior Doubles Champion in 2024 along with the Ivy League Player of the Year.
"We are so grateful Nika has joined our program," Johnson said. "She adds so much to our staff due to her time as a professional player and as a coach to top juniors. We are so thankful Princeton provides the opportunity for us to have a really strong second assistant, like Nika, to be on staff."
Kukharchuk helped Columbia to achieve a No. 2 Northeast year-end ranking in 2025. In 2024, the team reached a No. 45 national year-end ranking and won the ECAC Championship.
On the recruiting side, Kukharchuk aided Columbia in assembling the No. 17 recruiting class for 2025.
Between 2018-2021, Kukharchuk served as the travel coach for one of the top juniors in the world. Nika traveled to numerous ITF events (including junior Grand Slams), USTA, and UTR tournaments where her primary responsibility was player development including on court coaching, match preparation, and analysis. Under Kukharchuk's direction, her player earned a Top 30 ITF junior world ranking, gained entry into junior Grand Slams and won multiple events.
Kukharchuk also served as an official practice/hitting partner for numerous players (men and women) at the US Open in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
From 2018-21, Kukharchuk coached the No. 13 ranked Junior player in the world who went on to rank in top 30 in the world in ITF Juniors, gained entry into Junior Grand Slams and was victorious in multiple ITF Junior tournaments.
Kukharchuk is a Senior Tennis Professional at Grand Slam Tennis Club in Bedford, N.Y. where she has worked since 2013. Prior to Grand Slam she served as tennis professional and travel coach at Hardscrabble club in Brewster, N.Y. from 2008-2013.
Kukharchuk holds a BA in finance (2007) and an MBA (2008) from the University of Mississippi where she was a member of the Ole Miss Women's Tennis team from 2004-2008. She was a team captain her senior year, ranked No. 26 in doubles and No. 59 in singles and was named SEC (Southeastern Conference) player of the week in 2008. Kukharchuk was instrumental in the team becoming SEC Western Division Champions in 2005 for the first time in the program history. Kukharchuk was also named to the ESPN Magazine Academic All-District VI second at-large team.
Prior to attending Ole Miss, Kukharchuk was ranked No. 3 nationally in 16U in Russia, where she was born.
Nika Kukharchuk has joined the Princeton University women's tennis coaching staff as an assistant coach and Sydney Berlin has been promoted to the Cornelia Drake and John Van Ryn Jr. '28 Assistant Coach of Tennis.
Berlin enters her second year with the Tigers after Princeton recorded 10 wins in the 2024-25 season.
"I'm so excited for Sydney," Johnson said. "She's off to a great start in career as a college coach. Her commitment to PWT and Princeton Athletics culture is unique for someone with her tennis experience. We are stronger with her in so many ways so it was important to have her at Princeton in this new role."
Kukharchuk most recently was the assistant women's tennis coach at Columbia from 2022-25. Kukharchuk recruited and coached the Northeast Rookie of the Year who went on to become the US Open Junior Doubles Champion in 2024 along with the Ivy League Player of the Year.
"We are so grateful Nika has joined our program," Johnson said. "She adds so much to our staff due to her time as a professional player and as a coach to top juniors. We are so thankful Princeton provides the opportunity for us to have a really strong second assistant, like Nika, to be on staff."
Kukharchuk helped Columbia to achieve a No. 2 Northeast year-end ranking in 2025. In 2024, the team reached a No. 45 national year-end ranking and won the ECAC Championship.
On the recruiting side, Kukharchuk aided Columbia in assembling the No. 17 recruiting class for 2025.
Between 2018-2021, Kukharchuk served as the travel coach for one of the top juniors in the world. Nika traveled to numerous ITF events (including junior Grand Slams), USTA, and UTR tournaments where her primary responsibility was player development including on court coaching, match preparation, and analysis. Under Kukharchuk's direction, her player earned a Top 30 ITF junior world ranking, gained entry into junior Grand Slams and won multiple events.
Kukharchuk also served as an official practice/hitting partner for numerous players (men and women) at the US Open in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
From 2018-21, Kukharchuk coached the No. 13 ranked Junior player in the world who went on to rank in top 30 in the world in ITF Juniors, gained entry into Junior Grand Slams and was victorious in multiple ITF Junior tournaments.
Kukharchuk is a Senior Tennis Professional at Grand Slam Tennis Club in Bedford, N.Y. where she has worked since 2013. Prior to Grand Slam she served as tennis professional and travel coach at Hardscrabble club in Brewster, N.Y. from 2008-2013.
Kukharchuk holds a BA in finance (2007) and an MBA (2008) from the University of Mississippi where she was a member of the Ole Miss Women's Tennis team from 2004-2008. She was a team captain her senior year, ranked No. 26 in doubles and No. 59 in singles and was named SEC (Southeastern Conference) player of the week in 2008. Kukharchuk was instrumental in the team becoming SEC Western Division Champions in 2005 for the first time in the program history. Kukharchuk was also named to the ESPN Magazine Academic All-District VI second at-large team.
Prior to attending Ole Miss, Kukharchuk was ranked No. 3 nationally in 16U in Russia, where she was born.
Princeton Named USTA Facility Of The Year
Tuesday, September 02
Princeton Athletics 2023-24 Highlights
Tuesday, June 04
Highlights from 2022 Gary Walters ’67 PVC Awards Banquet
Wednesday, June 22
Princeton Athletics 2021-22 Highlights
Monday, June 06