Lithuanian-born, Spanish-trained Vilius Gaubas is ready to take on the world

Vilius Gaubas is a name tennis fans should start remembering. The 20-year-old Lithuanian is turning heads on the ATP Challenger Tour with his powerful game, impressive mental maturity and growing consistency.

Coming from a country that rarely finds itself in the international tennis spotlight, Gaubas is forging his path with quiet determination and a clear goal: to reach the sport’s biggest stages.

Two Breakthroughs

After winning four titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour, Gaubas made his Challenger breakthrough last year by claiming his first title in Cordenons, Italy. Although he had a bumpy start into the 2025 season, Gaubas found his stride again at the Open Menorca in early April. There, on the second-largest Balearic island, he clinched the biggest title of his young career and surged to a career-high ATP ranking of No. 144.

Practice in Spain with a Familiar Face

Gaubas didn’t need long to adjust to the conditions in Menorca. “I’ve been training in Alicante for about five years. That definitely helps. I like the heat and the high bounce—it suits my game,” he explained.

His coach in Spain is none other than former world No. 23 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

“When I first came to Spain, I met Guillermo through my coach at the time. I was lucky to hit with him a few times, and we got to know each other better,” said Gaubas “After he retired from professional tennis, I asked him if he’d consider working with me. That’s how it started.”

Although Garcia-Lopez doesn’t travel full-time due to family commitments, Gaubas has built a flexible support system. “When Guillermo can’t come, my mom or my physio is usually with me. We try to keep a good balance.”

I try to control the rallies with my forehand—that’s definitely one of my biggest strengths.

A grounded young pro with big dreams

Off court, Gaubas values time away from tennis.

“Sometimes I like to go for walks or read a book,” he shared and added with a grin. “Though I’ll admit that doesn’t happen too often.”

As for language, Gaubas has no trouble in his adopted training base.

“I understand pretty much everything in Spanish. I could probably speak it too, but I’m still a little shy,” he laughed. “On court, I still think in Lithuanian—it’s my native language and how I communicate with my family.”

The former Top 20 junior looks up to players like Dominic Thiem and Casper Ruud, and he knows what it takes to transition to the top level.

“It’s not just about tennis anymore,” he says. “On the Pro Circuit, the players are mentally so much stronger. They don’t have the ups and downs you often see in juniors. That’s the hardest part—and that’s what I’m working on.”

Davis Cup and Career Milestones

Gaubas made his Davis Cup debut for Lithuania in early 2023 with a dominant 4-0 win over Pakistan, a memory that still sticks with him.

“The atmosphere in Vilnius was amazing,” he recalled. “I won both my doubles and singles matches—it was a fantastic experience to contribute to the team.”

Another major milestone came with his first Challenger title in Northeast Italy.

“It was an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “Winning that title also got me into qualifying for the US Open. The conditions were tough—it was August, hot and humid—but I fought until the end. To finish the week with a title made it all worth it.”

Asked to describe his game, Gaubas is clear: “I try to control the rallies with my forehand—that’s definitely one of my biggest strengths. Physically, I feel strong too.”

And at the end of his winning week in Menorca, he conquered one final challenge—giving his victory interview in flawless Spanish for the tournament’s social media team. Just one more sign that Gaubas is ready for the next step on the world stage.