The world’s fastest server, Sam Groth, is heading to Tasmania after confirming his entry into this year’s Launceston International.
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The 29-year-old, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 53 in 2015, holds the record for the fastest serve ever recorded of 263km/h, set back in 2012 at the ATP Challenger event in Busan, Korea.
Groth is competing at this year’s Australian Open, where he advanced to the quarter-finals in both the men’s doubles (with Chris Guccione) and the mixed doubles (with Sam Stosur).
The Launceston International will be held at the Launceston Regional Tennis Centre, with main draw action beginning on Monday, February 6. The tournament will wrap up on Sunday, February 12, with the women’s singles final at 11am, to be followed by the men’s singles final.
In other Tasmanian tennis news, Olivia Rogowska has spoken of her excitement at attempting to claim a third Burnie International title.
The 25-year-old from Melbourne was ranked as high as 114 in the world back in 2012 and while not at those heights anymore, is confident she can have more success in Burnie where she won back-to-back titles in 2012-13.
“I have made great memories in Burnie over the years,” Rogowska said.
I have made great memories in Burnie over the years
- Olivia Rogowska
“I have always played really well there for some reason and it's a great town to visit.
“I know all the best restaurants and really enjoy spending time there and I think I've played some of my best tennis there.”
Rogowska admitted to having a tough year on the court in 2016 but felt her fortunes had changed at the back end of the year.
She heads to Burnie following an appearance in qualifying for the Australian Open and said it was another great experience that gave her confidence for the start of the year.
Her qualifying performance included an epic 2-6, 6-2, 11-9 win against Holland’s Cindy Burger and another three-setter over Romanian Mihaela Buzarnescu.
However, Rogowska fell to American Julia Boserup at the final qualifying hurdle 6-2, 6-1.