Berankis Wins Shymkent Challenger To Cap Surgery Return
Five months of patience and grueling rehabilitation have been rewarded for Ricardas Berankis. The Lithuanian lifted his eighth ATP Challenger Tour title in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 triumph over Yannick Hanfmann on Saturday. Hip surgery forced the 26 year old to begin his 2017 campaign in May. A first round exit (l. De Loore) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was a tough re-introduction, but Berankis was delighted by his rapid return to form in Shymkent. “Of course winning a title so quickly gives me confidence. Every point gives me confidence. For me, that was the longest time I've not played tennis during my career,” revealed Berankis. “The other guys are in the middle of the season, but for me...