Andrei Daescu was born to compete. From his early days in Bucharest, Romania, to a standout All-American tennis career at the University of Oklahoma and a pro run that saw him reach ATP #120 and represent his country in the Davis Cup, his athletic pedigree is elite.
But after a shoulder injury cut his tennis career short, pickleball gave him a "second chance" to compete.
Today, Andrei is one of the most dominant forces in the sport, sitting at #3 in the PPA men's doubles rankings. Fresh off a 2025 Major League Pickleball championship with the underdog Columbus Sliders, he joins Rick to discuss his incredible journey.
Andrei breaks down the "process over results" mindset his pro-basketball-player father instilled in him, the "chip on the shoulder" that fueled his team's underdog MLP run, and the strategic decision to step back from singles at age 37 for the sake of longevity. This is a masterclass in grit, mindset, and the fire that drives a world-class competitor.
LISTEN ON:
ITUNES: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-pickleball/id1853965730
SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ABq93D3rAg1PkZ9n87JPM
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INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thisispickleballpodcast/
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to Andrei Daescu
01:09 Early Tennis Journey in Romania
02:10 Transition to College Tennis
02:57 Parental Influence and Junior Tennis
05:56 From Tennis to Pickleball
07:17 Physical and Mental Preparation
11:22 Singles vs Doubles in Pickleball
14:46 Major League Pickleball Championship
22:25 Signature Shot and Playing Style
25:28 Future of Pickleball
29:22 Personal Life and Family
31:16 Impact of Pickleball on Life
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