Sam Groth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Groth
OLY, MP
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Sam Groth in 2023
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| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Victoria | |
| Assumed office 27 December 2024 |
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| Leader | Brad Battin |
| Preceded by | David Southwick |
| Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party | |
| Assumed office 27 December 2024 |
|
| Leader | Brad Battin |
| Preceded by | David Southwick |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Nepean | |
| Assumed office 26 November 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Chris Brayne |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samuel Groth
19 October 1987 Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal (since 2021) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Rye, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Politician, professional tennis player, television presenter. |
| Website | www.samgrothnepean.com.au |
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Tennis career |
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| Country (sports) |  Australia |
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Turned pro | 2006 |
| Retired | 2018 |
| Plays | Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $1,950,436 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 38–62 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 53 (10 August 2015) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | 3R (2015) |
| French Open | 1R (2015, 2016) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2015) |
| US Open | 2R (2014, 2015) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 69–59 |
| Career titles | 2 |
| Highest ranking | No. 24 (2 February 2015) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (2017, 2018) |
| French Open | SF (2014) |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2016, 2017) |
| US Open | 3R (2016) |
| Grand Slam mixed doubles results | |
| Australian Open | SF (2017) |
| Team competitions | |
| Davis Cup | SF (2015, 2017) |
Samuel Groth, born on 19 October 1987, is an Australian politician and a former professional tennis player. He was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the area of Nepean in 2022. He represents the Victorian Liberal Party, and since December 2024, he has also served as their Deputy Leader.
In his tennis career, Groth reached his highest singles ranking of World No. 53 in August 2015. His best doubles ranking was World No. 24 in February 2015. He also holds the record for the world's fastest serve at 263 kilometers per hour (163.4 mph), which he hit in 2012.
Before becoming a politician, Sam Groth worked for the Nine Network's tennis broadcasts. He was also a host on the TV show Postcards.
Contents
Tennis Career Highlights
Junior Years
In 2005, Sam Groth and his partner Andrew Kennaugh reached the finals of the Wimbledon boys' doubles championship. They finished as runners-up in the tournament.
Setting a World Record (2007–2013)
In 2007, Groth won a match against famous tennis player Mark Philippoussis. Groth also played in the ATP event in Nottingham, winning his first round match.
In 2012, at an ATP Challenger event in Busan, Groth made history. He hit the fastest serve ever recorded at 263 km/h (163.4 mph). This incredible serve set a new world record.
Breaking into the Top 100 (2014)
In 2014, Groth received a special entry into the Brisbane International tournament. He reached the quarter-finals, which was his first time getting so far in an ATP World Tour event.
He also won his first Challenger tour title in Rimouski, Canada. At the 2014 French Open, he made it to the semi-finals in men's doubles with his partner Andrey Golubev.
Later that year, Groth reached his first ATP semi-final at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships. This achievement helped him enter the top 100 tennis players in the world for the first time. He also won his first Grand Slam match at the US Open, though he later lost to tennis legend Roger Federer.
Continued Success (2015)
The 2015 season started strong for Groth. At the 2015 Brisbane International, he defeated Australian tennis star Lleyton Hewitt. He then had his best Grand Slam performance at the Australian Open, reaching the third round.
Groth won two more Challenger titles in 2015: the Santaizi Challenger and the Manchester Challenger. He also achieved his first win against a top 20 player by defeating Feliciano López.
At Wimbledon, Groth reached the third round. He played against Roger Federer and was the only player in that tournament to win a set against Federer before the final. Groth also played a key role in the Davis Cup Quarterfinals. He and Lleyton Hewitt won their doubles match, and Groth won his singles match, helping Australia reach the semi-finals.
Later Career and Retirement (2016–2018)
In 2016, Groth continued to play in major tournaments. He reached the second round of the Australian Open and the third round of men's doubles with Lleyton Hewitt. He also represented Australia at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Groth won his second ATP doubles title in Newport in 2016. He also won his fourth singles title on the Challenger Circuit in Las Vegas.
The 2018 Australian Open was Sam Groth's final tournament before he retired from professional tennis. He reached the quarter-finals in men's doubles with Lleyton Hewitt and also played in mixed doubles.
Political Career
Sam Groth began his political journey in 2022.
| Year(s) | Electorate | Candidates | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nepean | Sam Groth | 74 | |
| David Burgess | 33 | |||
| Elizabeth Miller | 4 | |||
In February 2022, Groth was chosen by the Liberal Party to run for the Nepean seat. This seat was held by the Labor Party at the time. Groth stated that he was motivated to run due to his concerns about the COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria.
He won the selection process with 74 votes, which was 67% of the total. He had support from important political figures like former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett and then-Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
2022 Victorian Election
| Years | Electorate | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2026 | Nepean | 60th | |
Before the election, Groth expressed confidence that winning the Nepean seat was important for the Liberal Party to form government in Victoria.
On the night of the election, Groth won the Nepean seat. This was a significant win for him and the Liberal Party. After the election, he was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Youth and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Sport and Events. These roles mean he helps lead the opposition's work in these areas.
In 2023, as a member of the Shadow Cabinet, Groth supported the leader, John Pesutto, in a vote to remove another member from the Parliamentary Liberal Party.
Becoming Deputy Leader
On 13 December 2024, Groth resigned from his roles in the Shadow Cabinet. He stated that he could no longer continue in his position.
Later, on 27 December 2024, Sam Groth was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party. He was the only candidate for the role, meaning he was chosen without opposition. This happened as part of a larger change in the party's leadership, with Brad Battin becoming the new leader.
Personal Life
Sam Groth was born in Narrandera, New South Wales, Australia. He grew up in the Riverina area of southern New South Wales. He is a big fan of the Sydney Swans, an Australian Rules Football team.
In January 2019, Groth received the OLY post-nominal title. This title is given to athletes who have competed in the Olympic Games.
From 2009 to 2011, Groth was married to Slovakian-Australian tennis player Jarmila Wolfe.
In 2018, Groth married his long-time partner, Brittany Boys. Brittany was an amateur women's tennis player who competed at university in the United States. Sam and Brittany have two children, twin boys, who were born in April 2021. The family lives in Rye, Victoria, which is in his electorate.
See also
In Spanish: Samuel Groth para niños
