UL’s Cordeneanu emerges as leader
Tennis standout misses family back in Moldova.
LOUISIANA La. — Many kids knows that once they graduate from high school they will leave their parents and go to live away at college.
They know that they will be able to see them on holidays and get their laundry washed.
Evghenii Cordeneanu knew that when he left his home in Kishinev, Moldova, to come to the United States that he wouldn’t be able to see his parents again until he became a success.
“I miss my family a lot,’’ Cordeneanu said. “Since the economy is in such bad shape tickets are too expensive. I still talk to them every week though.’’
Moldova, which separated from the Soviet Union in 1991, remains the poorest country in Europe. It is a primarily agricultural based economy with 80 percent of its population below the poverty line.
Cordeneanu’s father, Sergel, and mother, Zoya Bulavkima, worked hard to send their son to play in junior tournaments and at the age of 17 Cordeneanu had already played in such prestigious tournaments as Wimbledon, the French Open and even the U.S. Open, reaching a ranking of 75th in the world.
“The last time my parents saw me play was in 2001,’’ Cordeneanu said.
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