With $269,488 earned in tennis throughout his career, of which $91,106 in 2024, according to official figures provided by the ATP, Victor Vlad Cornea, 31 and ranked 91st in ATP doubles, is struggling to meet tennis expenses, considered an extremely expensive sport, in the conditions in which he suddenly became the head of the family.
Cornea shoots hard at tennis as a child PHOTO: Gabriel Pătruț – Libertatea
Victor Cornea is better known for his mega-publicized relationship with the artist Andreea Bălan and the fact that he trained with President Klaus Iohannis than for his tennis performances. His past is not one to be seen.
The Sibian comes from a family with modest income. Both his parents are budget managers, his mother a chemistry teacher, and his father – a former performance handball player, who became the director of “Sălii Transilvania” in Sibiu.
“I can’t afford extra expenses”
Because he didn’t have enough money for accommodation, Victor literally starved himself. He was forced to sleep in the car in which he traveled across the continent, from one tennis tournament to another, lower-class competitions with paltry prizes.
“I go on tours alone because I can’t afford extra expenses. I drive all over Europe! I also like to drive. I went to Italy, Spain, Croatia. I went on some risky tours in Italy and Spain. In Italy, I went to play two related tournaments in Milan. I lost in the last round of the qualifiers and I didn’t have money to go to the other tournament, I didn’t have money for gas and accommodation. I had to go back home! The coach was saying to me on the phone: “Why don’t you sleep in the car?”. I would have slept in the car, I’ve been in that situation, but how would I show up the next day for the tournament?“, said the Transylvanian, at 22 years old.
Cornea confessed that he is in love with speed: “I love cars! I’m obsessed, I’d say! I like the brands Lamborghini, Ferrari… I’ve been driving since I was 12, I used to ride the scooter, I used to drive the car through the parking lot. After I’m done with tennis and if I have enough money, I’d like to participate with a team of my own in the WTC circuit!“, said Cornea, for “Libertatea”, in 2016. His first car was a Skoda Octavia, with which, 8 years ago, he drove 40,000 kilometers across Europe in a few months.
