Berankis Draws the Line on 25 Years

The off-season hush of December 2025 carried an unexpected weight when Ricardas Berankis shared his decision on X. At 35, Lithuania’s highest-ranked player chose this moment to step away, his words laced with the quiet finality of a match point conceded after a grueling rally. Over 25 years, he chased dreams from junior circuits to ATP finals, each swing etching resilience into his game.

Berankis peaked at No. 50 in 2016, a ranking built on steady baseline exchanges that demanded mental fortitude amid the tour’s relentless schedule. His style leaned on precise patterns, like the 1–2 punch of a topspin forehand followed by an inside-out backhand to stretch opponents thin. Those tools served him through two ATP finals and a doubles title, turning potential into persistence on courts from clay to hard.

Junior fire ignites pro path

Back in 2007, a teenage Berankis claimed the US Open boys’ title and the Orange Bowl, his aggressive returns and net approaches propelling him to No. 1 in the ITF Junior World Rankings. That hard-court dominance set the tone for a pro career where he adapted quickly, facing bigger hitters with slices that kept balls skidding low to disrupt rhythm. The transition brought isolation and doubt, yet he channeled early excitement into breakthroughs, like reaching the Los Angeles final in 2012 on fast surfaces.

There, he mixed crosscourt winners with down-the-line passes, forcing errors from power servers in tight sets. The crowd’s energy in those moments fueled him, a reminder of home support echoing across oceans. His game evolved under pressure, favoring underspin on slower clay to extend points and preserve stamina for three-set battles.

Tactical grit weathers career storms

By 2015, Berankis partnered with Teymuraz Gabashvili for a doubles crown in Houston, their poaching volleys cutting through indoor hard returns like a sharp inside-in forehand. The 2017 Moscow final tested him further, where he absorbed baseline bombardments with patient counters, his 1–2 pattern buying time against flat hitters. Injuries and ranking dips forced resets—opting for safer moonballs over risks—but each comeback sharpened his edge, turning slumps into setups for deeper runs.

“Twenty-five years is not just a number. It is a life path, a childhood dream of reaching the heights of tennis that I have been following,” he reflected. “This stage passed in a moment, but at the same time it left an unimaginable amount of excitement, struggle, victories, painful experiences, lasting memories, and acquaintances that will accompany me for the rest of my life.”

Those experiences built a temperament suited to the tour’s psychological grind, where late-night recoveries and qualifier scrambles honed focus. In Davis Cup ties for Lithuania, the home roar amplified his resolve, blending national pride with personal drive. As seasons blurred, his adjustments—from heavy topspin on American hard to low slices in Europe—kept him competitive, a quiet force in a field of giants.

Peace follows the final rally

Now, with the calendar turning, Berankis closes this chapter unburdened. “There were ups. There were downs. These experiences have shaped me as an athlete and as a person,” he noted, gratitude threading through the farewells to family, coaches, and fans who lifted him in dark stretches. His faith anchored those highs and lows, much like a steady serve holding firm in wind.

“Every story has its beginning and its end… Today I am closing one of the most important chapters of my life, and I do so with peace and gratitude,” he added. The pro circuit loses a tactician who thrived on margins, but his legacy lingers in Lithuanian academies, inspiring the next wave to blend grit with grace. Future courts might see him coaching from the sidelines, his insights turning young rallies into lasting journeys.

For the full announcement, see the ATP Tour.