It has become hard to challenge Iga Swiatek‘s dominance on clay courts. The world no.1 secured three titles in a row, including massive victories in Madrid, Rome, and finally Paris. As the events are set to give participants a tour of Roland Garros once again for the Olympic games, a veteran stands in her way as the opening match rival.

Born on August 26, 1990, in Bucharest, Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu is a renowned WTA star who turned pro in 2005. She grew up in a supportive family that catered to her growth with a strong foundation in the world of sports. Her mother, Steluta, works as a civil servant, and her father, Paul, is an electrician. And she has also had the support of an older brother named Andrei.

Irina started playing tennis at the young age of three and a half, thanks to her aunt Aurelia Gheorghe, who was a former tennis player and coach. Besides tennis, Irina also enjoyed gymnastics and handball during her childhood, as being physically fit became her target at a very young age. Along with learning the basics from her aunt, Begu had a deep admiration for Martina Hingis, who inspired her tennis career. Her early success came in 2006 when she won the European 16 & Under title.

Throughout her remarkable journey as a professional tennis player, Begu won five singles titles, with unforgettable victories in Palermo (2022), Bucharest (2017), and Seoul (2015). She also reached several finals, including at the 2021 Cleveland and the 2014 Moscow tournaments. Recently, the Romanian made headlines with a strong performance at the 2023 Adelaide 1 tournament along with making it to the third round at Roland Garros.

As she looks forward to beginning her campaign at the Paris Olympics, the challenging first-round match against the world No. 1, Iga Swiatek will also add another achievement to her career. However, besides all of the connections that she values, Begu’s bonding with her son is something that knows no boundaries.

When Irina-Camelia Begu found solace in her son’s presence after a setback

Almost all the tennis moms out there have marked some or the other moments where they revealed a deep feeling of love for their kids. Similarly to the other ones, Irina-Camelia Begu once performed an act where she not only depicted her motherly love but also gave out the perfect way of seeking solace during disappointing situations.

During her showdown against Ekaterina Alexandrova at Roland Garros back in 2022, the racquet accidentally slipped from her hand, finding its way to the stands. As soon as this happened, her kid, who was sitting among the crowd, became emotional. In order to console him along with resting her own heart, Begu quickly ran towards her son and therefore lifted him high to make an effort to bring a smile to his face.

This incident gave out the high levels of affection that the Romanian WTA star holds for her son. As she now looks forward to crossing another major milestone at the Paris Olympics, it still remains to be seen if she brings her kid along.