Is Andrei Daescu the Next #1 Player in the World?

Andrei Daescu was once considered the most underrated pro pickleball player in the world, but now, he and Gabe Tardio are back-to-back gold medalists on the PPA Tour. Thanks to their run of beating top teams in 2024, they are collectively known as the "Giant Slayers."

Andrei’s consistent results and professionalism have earned him respect from fellow pros and top referees alike. In our interview, he discussed everything from pro-level strategies to how amateurs can elevate their game.

Drive for Show, Dink for Dough

The old golf maxim applies to pickleball, too. The game is getting faster, so why is a player thriving in this modern pickleball era urging you to slow down?

According to Andrei,

“The number one issue I see at the 4.0 level is poor footwork, which leads to a poor soft game. Most players at that level can drive the ball hard and have quick hands, but if you drop or dink with them, they get uncomfortable and speed up at the wrong time.”

Andrei believes many players get stuck at these levels because they don't focus enough on improving their soft game and touch. “Hitting the ball hard comes naturally for most players; hitting it softly requires reps, strength, and flexibility.”

At 36 years old and seven years into his pickleball career, Andrei is a veteran who spends significant time maintaining his strength and flexibility.

“Everyone has a bubble around them where they can comfortably hit from. Improving strength, flexibility, and balance is the key to expanding—or maintaining—that bubble.”

For amateurs looking to improve on the court, Andrei emphasizes the importance of working on things off of it — specifically, strengthening your legs. This will naturally enhance your footwork and help prevent pop-ups and missed dinks.

Daescu plays with the coveted Proton Series 1.

Kaitlyn Christian pro player for Proton Sports

Proton’s innovative approach to the science of paddle manufacturing has attracted the attention of high-level players and pickleball nerds alike. Known for its ability to create spin and maintain longevity, Proton’s nanotech surface is unlike anything we have seen in pickleball. Use code THE DINK for $25 off at Pickleball Central.

Adjustments Are Overrated

The former “most underrated” player in pickleball thinks that making mid-game or mid-match adjustments is overrated. “It’s a game of momentum. Just because a shot doesn’t work a few times doesn’t mean it’s the wrong play.”

“Sometimes your opponent has a good answer to your best shots. That said, a sound strategy should hold up through a few bad runs.”

It’s like a top shooter in basketball—just because a few shots miss doesn’t mean they should stop shooting.

Andrei emphasizes using timeouts strategically to stop an opponent's momentum rather than constantly tweaking your strategy. While calling a timeout in rec play might get you laughed off the court, each team typically has a few at their disposal in tournaments. Don’t hesitate to call one if your opponents start stringing together a few points—it could break their rhythm and halt their run.

On the flip side, if you have the momentum and your opponent calls a timeout, do everything you can to keep it! Andrei often stays on the court during an opponent’s timeout, aiming to hold onto the rhythm of a good run.

Shot Vocabulary

Watching Andrei and Gabe Tardio win their gold medal match in Las Vegas, it was hard not to notice Andrei deviating from his usual cross-court slice dink. Even Adam Stone, during his color commentary, pointed out the change.

When asked about it, Andrei described the work he’s been doing to develop a two-handed cross-court roll dink.

“Different tools allow you to maximize your effectiveness against specific opponents. In that match, Dekel Bar takes a lot of balls out of the air and can create a lot of offense from that position. So, instead of hitting an underspin shot that tends to float a little longer, I used more dipping topspin dinks that are harder for Dekel to volley.”

Andrei explained that in his previous match against Connor Garnett, who has less reach and tends to create offense off the bounce, he used slicing dinks that skid and bounce lower.

Success in any project is about having the right tools for the job. Andrei embraces the unique challenge of pickleball, a still-evolving sport.

Look out for Andrei and Gabe Tardio as they continue to build momentum on the PPA Tour. Knowing Andrei, you’ll likely find him on the court early, tapping that ball on his colorful Proton paddle, working to hold onto that winning feeling.

Andrei is one of a slate of pros that has been recently signed by Proton, the paddle manufacturer making waves with its ultra-durable paddles that leverage unique technology to maximize spin and power, without sacrificing touch.