SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Groth talking Wimbledon upsets

He's won just three main-draw matches in 2016, but Australian tennis battler Sam Groth believes he can send Kei Nishikori packing from Wimbledon.

Sam Groth from Australia
Sam Groth is not talking like a tennis player down on confidence and bang out of luck. (AAP)

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Sam Groth is not talking like a tennis player down on confidence and bang out of luck.

Groth has every right to be kicking stones after arriving at Wimbledon under pressure to arrest an alarming rankings slide and then drawing sixth seed Kei Nishikori in the first round.

And all this after striking claycourt colossus Rafael Nadal first up at Roland Garros this month and running into 10-time grand slam finalist and former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in round two at the Australian Open.

Awarded the Newcombe Medal last year for outstanding results, Groth admits he's "dirty with the draw gods", but nevertheless remains upbeat about another strong campaign following his charge to the Wimbledon third round in 2015.

"If I was ever going to cause an upset at a slam, I feel like this is the one," Groth said ahead of his showdown on Monday with Japan's 2014 US Open runner-up.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"I took a set off Roger (Federer) here last year and was the only guy to do so before the final, so it's a place I feel comfortable playing.

"It's a surface that probably suits my game better than any other.

"I probably wish I was playing 20 years ago when every tournament was on this surface.

"So this is the place for me to do it and why not do it come Monday."

Groth lost his only previous meeting with Nishikori, on a US hard court last year, and knows he'll have his work cut out reversing the result.

But the owner of the world's fastest-ever recorded serve knows it's very much possible.

"Especially when it's green in the first few days when it's not easy to return," he said.

"We've seen a lot of upsets here in the last few years.

"I'm sure there're guys who didn't want to see me as well in that part of the draw coming onto this stuff."

The cause of Groth's optimism, despite slumping to No.123 in the world after leaving Wimbledon last year believing he'd return as a contender, is simple enough.

"I don't feel like I've been playing too badly." he said.

"I've just lost a lot of tight matches against quality players, so I haven't been able to build any match momentum."


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world