If you follow professional pickleball, you have almost certainly watched Andrei Daescu work the kitchen line. The Romanian-American is one of the most respected doubles specialists on the PPA Tour, known for a patient soft game, smart resets, and a knack for making whoever stands across the net from him better. He is a former pro tennis player who reinvented himself in pickleball and reached the very top of the doubles game.
This guide rounds up what is publicly known about Daescu: his age, his path into the sport, his recent results, his equipment deal, and an honest look at the net-worth estimates floating around online.
Early Life and Background
Andrei Daescu was born on February 28, 1988, in Bucharest, Romania, which makes him 38 years old as of June 2026. He came to the United States on a tennis scholarship and is an alumnus of the University of Oklahoma.
Before pickleball, Daescu had a full professional tennis career. He represented Romania in Davis Cup play, reached a career-high ATP doubles ranking of No. 126, won an ATP Challenger doubles title in 2012, and qualified for the 2015 US Open. That tennis foundation, with its emphasis on footwork, court coverage, and touch, shows up clearly in his pickleball game today.
Rise in Pickleball
Daescu transitioned to professional pickleball in 2017. He made his early mark on the Association of Pickleball Players (APP) tour, where he climbed to the No. 1 ranking in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles.
He is best known as a doubles player, and his resume backs that up. Across his pro pickleball career he has collected six PPA men’s doubles gold medals and a mixed doubles gold, and he is widely regarded as one of the best partners on tour. On the PPA Tour he competes in both men’s doubles and mixed doubles; as of 2025 his profile listed him around No. 4 in men’s doubles and No. 5 in mixed doubles, with earlier-2025 snapshots placing him a bit lower. Rankings shift week to week, so treat any single number as a moment in time rather than a fixed stat.
Doubles partners
One hallmark of Daescu’s career is how many elite players have wanted him on their side of the court. In 2025 he won men’s doubles titles with multiple partners, including a Cape Coral Open win alongside Ben Johns and several titles with Christian Alshon (Tucson Open, Mesa Cup, and Red Rock Open). He later paired with Gabe Tardio heading into the PPA Tour’s final stop of the season. In mixed doubles he has earned medals with a range of partners over the years, including Anna Bright and Kaitlyn Christian.
2024 and 2025 results
In 2024 Daescu earned a silver medal in mixed doubles at the Mesa Open. His 2025 highlight came in team play: he led the Columbus Sliders to the Major League Pickleball (MLP) championship as a No. 5 seed, posting a 14-2 doubles record across the postseason in what The Kitchen described as one of the most dominant playoff runs in the league’s short history. His men’s doubles pairing with CJ Klinger went undefeated through those playoffs, and he played mixed doubles with Parris Todd. It was his second MLP title; he previously won with the Orlando Squeeze.
Net Worth and Earnings
Here is where honesty matters. Several lower-authority websites estimate Andrei Daescu’s net worth at roughly $2 million, citing his combined tennis and pickleball careers plus sponsorships. Treat that figure as an unverified estimate, not a confirmed fact. Daescu has not publicly disclosed his finances, and these aggregator estimates are not based on any primary source we could verify.
What we can say with more confidence is that his income comes from the usual streams for a top doubles pro: PPA Tour prize money, MLP team contracts and bonuses, and equipment and apparel sponsorships. For context on how those streams stack up across the sport, see our breakdown linked below.
Sponsorships and Brand Endorsements
Daescu is a CRBN paddle athlete and has competed with the CRBN Barrage line. His sponsor list has also included the apparel and recovery brand Leorever. As with any active pro, endorsement rosters can change season to season, so always confirm current deals against a brand’s own athlete page before relying on them.
Personal Life
Daescu currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Beyond his residence, his hometown of Bucharest, and his Oklahoma college background, he keeps his personal life relatively private, and we found no reliably sourced public details about his family to include here. We would rather leave that blank than guess.
What’s Next for Andrei Daescu
At 38, Daescu has shown no signs of slowing down. His value as a doubles partner, his championship pedigree in MLP team play, and his steady presence near the top of the PPA rankings all suggest he will remain a fixture in the pro game’s doubles conversation. The bigger question is which elite partner he lines up with next, because on current form, plenty of them would take the call.
If watching pros like Daescu makes you want to sharpen your own doubles game, the best move is simply to get on a court and play. Pickleland’s indoor courts in the Austin area are open year-round for drop-in play, clinics, and league nights.
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FAQs
How old is Andrei Daescu?
Andrei Daescu was born on February 28, 1988, making him 38 years old as of June 2026.
What paddle does Andrei Daescu use?
Daescu is a CRBN athlete and has played with the CRBN Barrage paddle line. Sponsorships can change, so check CRBN’s current athlete roster for the latest.
Did Andrei Daescu play another sport before pickleball?
Yes. He was a professional tennis player who represented Romania in Davis Cup, reached a career-high ATP doubles ranking of No. 126, and qualified for the 2015 US Open before turning to pickleball in 2017.