SAM GROTH SERVES UP BIG BREAKTHROUGH

Written by: Staff on 22nd January 2015

SAM GROTH SERVES UP BIG BREAKTHROUGH

epa04572614 Sam Groth of Australia returns the ball to Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia during their second round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2015. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

As Sam Groth battled fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in front of the thousands of fans packed into Hisense Arena, Wednesday in Melbourne, the contrast was clear.

Kokkinakis, with his baby face and neon Nike kit, entered the second-round match blanketed by hype thicker than his unruly mop of brown hair. The highly touted Australian teenager rose to No. 147 in the Emirates ATP Rankings following a strong year in 2014. In a country looking for its next superstar, the lanky Adelaide native could be the answer.

Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia reacts during his second round match against Sam Groth of Australia at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2015. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Groth, wearing basic black and white with a Hewitt-esque backwards cap, stepped on the court as a 27-year-old known more for his monstrous serve than his recent, methodical rise up the ranks.

After nearly three hours, Groth finished off his younger opponent 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-1. The World No. 82 is finally starting to see his hard work pay off. But even with eight years of professional tennis to his credit, he admits he has lots to learn.

“I’m still pretty inexperienced at this level,” he said. “It’s my first five-set match; my first time in the third round of a Grand Slam; it’s my first time in the second round of the Australian Open. I’m inexperienced, but I’m loving every minute of it.”

Groth first picked up a racquet at age 10 on the grass courts of Corowa, New South Wales. He idolised Mark Philippoussis and Patrick Rafter, so it’s fitting that his game has developed into a hybrid of the two Aussie greats. In addition to his trademark serve (he clocked the fastest on record at 163.4 miles per hour in 2012), Groth relishes any opportunity to approach the net. That style of play has also contributed to his success on the doubles court where he currently sits at a career-high rank of No. 31.

Sam Groth of Australia returns the ball to Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia during their second round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2015. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

“I think I have got a good all-around game now, and I think I pose a problem for guys because it’s something they don’t see,” he said. “They have games where they don’t hit balls on my service games. Then all of a sudden at 4-all, 5-all, if you’re going to hit passes, that doesn’t make it easy.”

Groth’s career faced a major setback in 2011 when a shoulder injury and a broken relationship nearly forced him to step away from the game for good. He took an eight-month leave of absence from the Tour, even putting his 6’4″, 215-pound frame to good use by signing on as a member of an Aussie Rules Football reserve club during his time away.

When he returned, his Emirates ATP Ranking sat at No. 575, leaving him with major work to do. While his game has steadily improved since then with the help of his coach, Ben Mathias, it’s his attitude that has endured the most significant overhaul.

“The old Sam probably would have lost that fourth set and gone home,” Groth said, following his second-round win. “I feel like my emotional control is a massive part of my game that I improved, especially the way I was able to finish in the fifth.”

Groth, who took World No. 8 Milos Raonic to a final set tie-break just weeks ago in Brisbane, faces another Australian young gun next inBernard Tomic. The 22 year old knows he’s in for a fight.

“He’s improved a lot, and I have to be ready,” Tomic said. “He’s winning a lot of matches now and he’s fitter… He’s going to be throwing a lot of stuff at me, coming forward, serve-volleying, and I have to focus on my serve… He’s playing the tennis of his life. It’s going to be interesting.”

Though World No. 66 Tomic may have more experience on the largest stages in tennis, Groth plans on using his age to his advantage.

“I’m 27. I feel like I’ve matured over the last couple years. You know, like any 27 year old, I should be starting to mature a little bit,” he said with a smile.

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original link: http://m.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/01/3/Australian-Open-Thursday-Groth.aspx?utm_source=ATPMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ATP%20World%20Tour%20Insider )

Topics: Australian Open, Melbourne, Sam Groth, Tennis, Thanasi Kokkinakis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 22, 2015 at 9:40 pm

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dusanVemic says:

January 23, 2015 at 12:01 am

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