Berankis announces retirement: 'These experiences have shaped me'
Ricardas Berankis, the highest-ranked Lithuanian player in history, announced his retirement from professional tennis on Tuesday via a post on X.
“Today is one of those days that seems like it will never come, but when it does, it touches me very sensitively and deeply,” wrote the 35-year-old. “I want to announce that I have made one of the most difficult decisions of my life – to end my professional tennis career.”
Berankis reached a career-high No. 50 in the PIF ATP Rankings in 2016 and finished his career as a two-time finalist on the ATP Tour.
“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,” Berankis continued. “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.”
Berankis won the US Open boys’ title and the Orange Bowl Tennis Championships in 2007 — the same year that he rose to No. 1 in the ITF Junior World Rankings. Along with reaching two ATP Tour finals in Los Angeles in 2012 and Moscow in 2017, he also captured a tour-level doubles title in Houston in 2015 with Teymuraz Gabashvili.
[ATP APP]“There were ups. There were downs. These experiences have shaped me as an athlete and as a person,” Berankis wrote. “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.
“I thank everyone who was there for me – my family, friends, coaches, teammates, sponsors, partners, fans, and everyone who believed in me, supported me, encouraged me, and helped me get back up when things were the hardest. My faith and your support were my driving force.”
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