GWANGJU, April 18, 2016
Top-seed Ricardas Berankis claimed his first title of the season, winning the $50,000 Gwangju Open Challenger on Sunday.
The 25-year-old from Lithuania beat Grega Zemlja in the final 6-3, 6-2. Berankis won 65% of his first service points, converting four of his 12 break point chances to secure victory in one hour and 21 minutes. Berankis defeated the Slovenian for the first time in the pair’s fourth tour meeting.
He earns $7,200 in prize money as well as 90 ATP ranking points taking the title without dropping a set. By winning the tournament, he has gained a new career high 62nd position and becomes the first Lithuanian tennis player to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Very happy with challenger title in Gwangju!!! And my highest ranking ever!!!!!!! On the way to Nanjing 👊👊👊pic.twitter.com/wwsVhL6kfo
— Ricardas Berankis (@berankisr) 17. April 2016
Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana captured the doubles crown, winning 6-3, 6-2 against Frederik Nielsen and David O’hare in one hour and one minute. It was the first title of the season for the top-seeds from Thailand.
