Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt may await in the Brisbane International first round but fellow Australian Sam Groth has already claimed victory over his greatest opponent – himself.
Despite earning a main draw nod due to ex-US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro’s withdrawal, Groth says he now feels he belongs on the same stage as the likes of Hewitt after tempering his self destructive on-court ways.
“When I walk into the main draw of an ATP event I definitely feel comfortable now,” world No.81 Groth told AAP.
“I definitely have enough weapons to beat a lot of these guys, but the problem had been that I beat myself a lot – that doesn’t happen now.”
Groth’s initial claim to fame was clocking the fastest recorded serve in a tournament – a 263kph bullet in an ATP Challenger second tier event.
These days it is the speed of the 27-year-old Victorian’s world ranking rise that is turning heads.
Groth was rewarded for his first top-100 season on the ATP rankings in 2014 – reaching a career-high 75 – by gaining selection in Australia’s Davis Cup tie with Uzbekistan in September.
Impressed by Groth in camp, captain Pat Rafter told the fellow serve-volleyer it was time to raise the bar if he wanted to stand out alongside the likes of Hewitt, world No.52 Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic (56th) and young gun Thanasi Kokkinakis.
It’s a call Groth wants to answer, starting at the Brisbane International – at Hewitt’s expense.
“Obviously Lleyton is a guy I have looked up to for a long time but I feel I can give him some problems,” Groth said.
“I am certainly not going out there to make up the numbers.”
Groth may have gained Brisbane International infamy for his courtside domestic spat with then wife Jarmila when miked up by TV cameras while offering advice during her 2011 quarter-final loss.
Now he hopes to create happier memories ahead of the Australian Open and the World Group first round clash with Czech Republic from March 6-8.
“Of course you want to try and step up,” Groth said.
“The next step for me is to do well at grand slam level.
“Hopefully that happens in Melbourne in a couple of weeks.”
Groth has lost in the first round twice in Melbourne.
But he hopes his doubles form gives him the edge when the Davis Cup team is announced.
Groth teamed up with countryman Chris Guccione to reach four ATP finals and won his first title in Bogota last year.
“The ultimate is to play Davis Cup for your country and the 2016 Olympics are not that far away,” he said.
Meanwhile, world No.265 Matt Reid is on course to join the seven-strong Australian men’s contingent in the Brisbane main draw.
He upset Slovak seventh seed and world No.126 Norbert Gombos 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4 in qualifying on Sunday.
Reid must down American Rhyne Williams to qualify for the main draw.
