Tennis Prose




Apr/11

5

Biofile with Richard Berankis

Status: ATP #74. Has career wins over Ginepri, Ball, Phau, Young, Nalbandian, Volandri, Clement, Dimitrov, Muller, Harrison, Kevin Anderson.

Ht: 5-9 Wt: 155

DOB: June 21, 1990 in: Vilnius, Lithuania.

First Tennis Memory: “It’s tough to remember actually because I started when I was two. So it’s hard to remember myself in tennis. Everything I remember is connected to tennis. I don’t remember how I picked up the racquet, when I did it. Like I said, I was two.”

Tennis Inspirations: “Who inspires me? For sure, #1 is Federer. I watched him since I started to watch tennis since age 13. Since 12 years old I started to realize about the matches and everything. He was the guy to come up and next five years he stayed #1. He’s the biggest inspiration for me, because of what level he reached and the way he is – simple and friendly and very good person. You can get inspired by those kinds of people.”

Nickname: Rycka.

Hobbies/Interests: “A lot of things — relax, swim, fishing, underwater fishing, billiards, all kinds of stuff. Like many things.”

Favorite Movies: “Gladiator, Braveheart and those kinds of movies.”

Favorite TV Shows: “Not really.”

Musical Tastes: “Everything. Metallica like some but not all the songs. Usually pop, just by its rhythm. Everything really.”

Current Car: “Don’t drive now. I sold it. But it was Mazda RX8 (gray).”

Favorite Meal: “Sushi.”

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”

Pre-Match Feeling: “Just relax. Trying to relax. Not to think if it’s a big match or a small match. Concentrate and be ready for the match. Let’s say that. Relax. But be concentrated at the same moment.”

Last Book Read: “Tough to say…Mystery of the Dark Lighthouse.”

Childhood Dream: “My dream was to become a good tennis player, seriously.”

Greatest Sports Moment So Far: “Becoming #1 junior 2007.”

Most Painful Moment: “Losing to Melzer in five sets last year at U.S. Open. 4-3 serving with game balls (eventually lost 5-7 in fifth set).”

Favorite Tournament: “Masters here (Sony Ericsson Open) Miami. Here in Miami. (Why?) Because I spend a lot of time here, before, during Orange Bowl and everything. So, also the beach, the city is so nice. You always come here, you work hard but you also chill at the same time.”

Funny Memory: “Let me think. Trying to remember…locker room – nothing special [smiles]. Court – maybe I played with a broke racquet and I saw it after the match only. It was completely cracked on the side. That was the funniest. (Pro?) Yeah, as a pro last year. Two years ago in Challenger in Savannah I think. I lost in three, 6-4 in the third (to) Italian guy I think.”

Embarrassing Memory: “Lost love and one to Carsten Ball.”

Closest Tennis Friends: “That would be Gastao Elias, Portuguese. A couple of other guys. But not that close.”

Funniest Players: “French guy. Old guy. Bahrami. Films of him. Also the exhibitions that he does. He’s very funny.”

Toughest Competitors Encountered: “That would be…I didn’t play too many guys too many times. But…Melzer for me also the one.”

Favorite Players To Watch: “Federer. All top players, seriously, I like all matches.”

Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Don’t have the exact sport, I do everything, basketball, football, soccer, everything a little bit. Hockey I like to watch but I never play.”

Strangest Match: “(Feliciano) Lopez in Miami (2011). I didn’t feel good before the match. During the match I felt good. Then I got injured. Couldn’t finish and I was 3-0 up in the third set. Then I just lost 6-3.”

People Qualities Most Admired: “Just to be a good person. Nice person. That’s the main thing. Good, nice person.”

You can read more Biofiles like this one at www.TheBiofile.com

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6 comments

  • Michael · April 5, 2011 at 8:01 pm

    Why the name change.

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 5, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    I will ask the agent…

  • Scoop Malinowski · April 5, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    Asked the IMG agent why the name change. His reply: “It is pronounced like Richardas in Lithuanian so Richard is the closest translation.”

  • Michael · April 5, 2011 at 10:39 pm

    Actually the question was for “Richard.”

    And the agent’s reply was not responsive to your question.

  • Fan · April 6, 2011 at 12:47 am

    He changed name because in Lithuanian his name is Ričardas (‘č’ like ‘ch’), not Ricardo or something else.

  • Michael · April 6, 2011 at 3:45 am

    You didn’t finish the thought. And Americans ? Europeans ? can’t pronouce the “ch” sound and marketers find it unappealing ?

    I guess someone needs to tell these three they will have to come up with new names:

    Ganna Poznikhirenko
    Zarah Razafimahatratra
    Noppawan Lertcheewakarn

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