Jo-Wilfried Tsonga returns to court as Berankis wins farewell match in Vilnius

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stepped back onto court for the first time since his 2022 retirement, taking part in a farewell exhibition organised for Ricardas Berankis in Vilnius. The Lithuanian marked the occasion with a 6-4, 6-1 victory, in an event built around his final appearance as a professional player.

The match was held at the SEB Arena in Vilnius, Lithuania, in front of a home crowd that turned out to celebrate Berankis’ career. The setting added context to the result, with the event structured as a tribute rather than a competitive fixture, allowing the Lithuanian to close his career on court in his home city.

The first set remained relatively balanced, with Berankis securing the decisive break to take it 6-4. From there, the match shifted in structure. Tsonga, no longer operating at tour intensity, struggled to maintain consistency across longer rallies, while Berankis managed the exchanges more efficiently to take control of the second set and close it out 6-1 after approximately 90 minutes.

Tsonga, a former World No. 5, built one of the most consistent careers of his generation with 18 ATP titles and a runner-up finish at the 2008 Australian Open, where his run included a semifinal win over Rafael Nadal. He also played a central role in France’s Davis Cup campaign, helping secure the 2017 title, and remained a regular presence in the latter stages of Grand Slam events during his peak years.

For Berankis, the exhibition followed his decision to retire in December 2025, closing a career defined by milestones for Lithuanian tennis. He reached a career-high No. 50 in the ATP Rankings in 2016 and finished as a two-time ATP Tour finalist, with runs in Los Angeles (2012) and Moscow (2017).

Earlier in his career, he won the US Open boys’ title and the Orange Bowl in 2007, the same season he rose to No. 1 in the ITF junior rankings. He also claimed a tour-level doubles title in Houston in 2015 alongside Teymuraz Gabashvili.