Andrei Daescu

Andrei Daescu is the Romanian-born powerhouse who went from grinding on the ATP tour to absolutely dominating the pickleball scene. Growing up in Bucharest, he picked up a tennis racket at age 6, eventually earning a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where he became an All-American. After going pro in tennis and reaching a career-high ATP doubles ranking around No. 120 (including a 2015 US Open appearance and Davis Cup play for Romania), a shoulder injury forced him to pivot. In 2017, while teaching tennis at BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, he discovered pickleball and never looked back.

What followed has been nothing short of a tear through professional pickleball. Daescu racked up four APP gold medals in 2022, climbed to #1 in both men's and mixed doubles, and won an MLP championship with the Orlando Squeeze in 2023. In 2025, he made a serious case for the best men's doubles player on tour, stacking gold after gold alongside partners like Ben Johns and Christian Alshon. Sponsored by Proton Sports, he helped design their Series One paddle and now plays with the Series Three - Project Flamingo model. When he's not on the court, you'll find this Formula 1 fanatic go-karting, watching NBA games, or hanging at the beach with his family.