Sam Groth has confirmed that he will hang up his racket at the start of 2018 following the Australian Open.
The 30-year-old outlined his plans during an interview with The Herald Sun. In recent years Groth has been dogged by injury problems on the tour, contributing to him falling outside of the world’s top-150. A foot injury caused havoc during his 2016 season. Then during this summer he picked up a neck injury at the ATP Vancouver Challenger in Canada.
Groth has been pondering retirement since Wimbledon. At the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport he came to the realisation that he didn’t want to be on the tour anymore.
“It’s been something I’ve been thinking about since Wimbledon,” Groth said.
“I went to Newport, a tournament I’ve done really well at in the past. I ‘qualified’, won a round and I was playing John Isner on centre court and part of me just really didn’t want to be there.”
Reaching a ranking best of 53rd in the world in 2015, Groth has been a pivotal member of his country’s Davis Cup team. Playing in eight ties since 2014, he has won five out of seven matches played. On the ATP Tour, he has won four Challenger titles and reached the third round of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2015.
“My issue has never been competing,” he explained.
“Before I got to 53 in the world, my issue was doing enough work and all those sorts of things.
“That became the easy part at the end.
“But getting out and competing and being away from home became tough.”
Hitting over 1400 aces during his career, Groth holds the record for the world’s fastest serve. At a 2012 Challenger tournament in South Korea he hit one at the speed of 263 km/h (163.4 mph). Becoming the first and so far only player to hit a serve over 230 km/h.
A former Newcombe medal winner, which is Australia’s most prestigious tennis award, Groth believes he will be ending his career without any regreats.
“I played centre court at Wimbledon, made third round at the Australian and topped off by the Newcombe Medal.” He said.
“To look back on that, I’m very happy and content to look back on that and makes it easier to walk away.”
Players pay tribute
Congrats G-train!!! Enjoy retirement 🍺 @SamGrothTennis pic.twitter.com/RMX5dMcjZC
— Matt Reid (@MattReid12345) 24 October 2017
G-traiiiiiiiin
— Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) 24 October 2017
Congrats Grothy. You will be truly missed!#Towel https://t.co/yBZTTHnobV
— Ryan Harrison (@ryanharrison92) 24 October 2017
@SamGrothTennis mate I thought you were joking when you said you were going to retire this week. Congrats fella
— Liam Broady (@Liambroady) 24 October 2017
Respect for @SamGrothTennis.. Top career mate. True blue Aussie. Great friend to have on the road. Respect ✊
— John Millman (@johnhmillman) 24 October 2017
