Irina-Camelia Begu
A durable and crafty Romanian stalwart with a thunderous forehand, consistently troubling the world's best for over a decade on the WTA tour.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Romanian tennis player·Birthday: August 26·Millennials
Biography
Irina-Camelia Begu represents the bedrock of Romanian tennis in the 21st century—a consistent, powerful presence whose career has outlasted many of her flashier contemporaries. Turning professional in 2005, she climbed steadily, her game built around a heavy, topspin-laden forehand and a competitive stubbornness that made her a difficult out on any surface. While a major singles title eluded her, she carved a reputation as a perennial threat, reaching the fourth round of multiple Grand Slams and peaking inside the world's top 25. Her doubles success, including a run to the French Open final, highlighted her intelligent net play and versatility. Begu's career is a masterclass in longevity and adaptation, mentoring younger Romanian players like Simona Halep early on and later becoming a veteran leader herself. Through injuries and tour evolution, she has remained a fixture, her name regularly appearing deep in tournament draws as a testament to her skill and enduring love for the grind of professional tennis.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Irina-Camelia was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Irina-Camelia Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Irina-Camelia's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 22 in 2016, cementing her place as a top-tier player.
- Advanced to the women's doubles final at the 2022 French Open alongside Anastasia Potapova.
- Won four WTA singles titles and eight WTA doubles titles across her career on various surfaces.
- Represented Romania in the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) for over 15 years, playing both singles and doubles.
Did You Know?
She was the first Romanian woman to win a WTA title in nearly six years when she claimed the title in Seoul in 2015.
Begu defeated former World No. 1 Venus Williams in the first round of the 2023 Australian Open.
She has a younger sister, Elena, who also played professional tennis.
In 2022, she was involved in a controversial incident at the French Open where her racket slipped from her hand and slid into the crowd, leading to a fine.
“I just try to be aggressive and play my game, hit the ball hard.”
