PARIS: Former Albury star Sam Groth believes blocking out the crowd will be crucial in tonight’s French Open men’s doubles semi-final.
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Groth said French opponents Julien Benneteau and Edouard Roger-Vasselin would have enormous support at Roland Garros and hoped a good start would nullify their advantage.
“Obviously making the semi-finals is an amazing feeling, but we really feel like we aren’t done yet,” Groth said.
“We play two French guys which will be tough as they will obviously have the support of the crowd but we will keep doing what we have been doing and hopefully come Saturday we will be playing in a grand slam final.
“It’s a great feeling and we are ready to go again.”
Groth and first-time partner Andrey Golubey have dropped only one set during the tournament and breezed through their quarter-final 6-3 6-3.
Benneteau and Roger-Vasselin are the No. 12 seeds but have had a much tougher passage through to the semi-finals.
The giant-killing run has put Groth firmly in the frame to play doubles for Australia in Davis Cup in Perth in September.
Meanwhile, Albury’s Mark Shanahan has acc-epted an SOS from Matt Edben to help him prepare for Wimbledon.
Shanahan will fly out of Australia this weekend in a bid prepare for the world’s most prestigious tournament.
Shanahan and Edben have worked closely together in recent years with the world No. 62 enjoying some of his best results under the Border coach.