ALBURY’S Sam Groth has continued his rise on the world doubles rankings with a comeback win in the US.
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The 26-year-old and Aussie partner John Patrick-Smith lost the first set in the Knoxville ATP challenger tournament before winning the second and taking a super tie breaker 10-7 against another compatriot, Carsten Ball, and Canadian Peter Polansky.
Groth’s win is almost certain to assure him of a start in the doubles at Australian Open in January.
“It was a tight match but even though we lost the first-set tie break we felt like we were the better team in that set, we just needed to take our chances,” he said.
“My doubles ranking should now go to around 79 or 80.”
On Sunday night, US time, Groth was in the car and making the seven-hour road trip to Champaign, Illinois, for the final US round of the challenger tour and another chance to lift his rankings.
After that it will be Toyota, Japan before returning home to prepare for the first major of next year.
The doubles pair were again seeded No. 1 for the indoor hardcourt tournament in Illinois.
Groth was also seeded seventh in the singles but likely to meet the No. 1 seed Tim Smyczek — who made the second round at Indian Wells earlier this year and trains with the likes of James Blake, Mardy Fish and John Isner — in the third round.
Groth said his singles form was also on the rise despite losing in the second round in Tennessee last week.
“Obviously it’s disappointing losing, especially 7-6 in the third set in singles but I am putting myself in situations to win matches and if I keep doing that then I will come through more and more of those close ones,” he said.
“I will focus on that this week and take confidence from winning the doubles.
“I’m seeded seven so hopefully I can play well and have a good week.”
Groth is at 203 in the world ranking in singles but, despite a strong year in doubles and singles on the secondary tour, he is expected to have to play qualifiers to get into the singles draw at the Australian Open.