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Ricardas Berankis had a memorable 2007, capturing the U.S. Open Junior championship, training with Roger Federer, playing Davis Cup, signing with IMG and winning the season's last two ITF junior tournaments to finish the year as World Junior Champion. The 17-year-old from Vilnius, Lithuania won both the Eddie Herr and Junior Orange Bowl in 2004, and over the next three years steadily rose through the European and ITF junior circuits to become a consistent performer at the junior Grand Slams. As a 16-year-old, Berankis won an ITF Men's tournament in Portugal, and although he is still eligible to play junior events this year, is concentrating instead on Futures tournaments.

Now training at IMG/Bolliettieri Tennis Academy, the 5-foot-8 155-lb right-hander is working to improve his ATP ranking, which is currently 643. I had an opportunity to talk with him last month at the Pro Circuit event in North Miami Beach, where he reached the semifinals. In his rapidly improving English (he also speaks Russian and of course, Lithuanian), Berankis offered his thoughts on the differences between junior and professional tennis, his daily routine, the state of tennis in his home country and the shot he'd most like to have.

Q. What's the biggest difference between junior tennis and Pro Circuit level tennis?

A. The difference is in professional tennis you cannot lose concentration, even for one minute. Once you lose concentration your level straight away drops and the other guy comes up and starts to have all the momentum of the match. Then it's pretty tough to come back.