SAM Groth is ready to serve it up to the world.
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The Border tennis ace is off to Rio to compete in the Olympic Games after receiving an 11th-hour call-up following Stan Wawrinka’s withdrawal through injury.
Groth took to Twitter to express his joy at his selection, saying he “couldn’t be more pumped” to be going to Rio.
His former coach Phil Shanahan, who recently spent time with Groth at the French Open and Wimbledon, said the 28-year-old with the booming serve would realise a life-long dream by competing at the Olympics.
“I love him and I’m just so proud that one of our country kids can get on the biggest stage in the world,” he said.
“This is one of the things he always wanted to do, he really wanted to represent Australia at the Olympics.
“You look back on your career and see that you represented Australia at the Olympics, it’s got to be one of the great highlights of your life, hasn’t it?.
“I’m pretty pumped for him – he will just be rapt to be there.”
The Newcombe medallist has endured a tough run in 2016 after foot surgery late last year and his ranking has dropped from a career-high 53 to 168.
He went down to Andy Murray in the second round of the Australian Open before making first-round exits at the hands of Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori at the French Open and Wimbledon.
But Groth recently teamed with Chris Guccione to win a doubles tournament in Newport and Shanahan said, with an ounce of luck, the Albury and Corowa export would shine in Brazil.
“It’s pretty tough, isn’t it?,” Shanahan said.
“He’s had pretty tough draws in all the slams.
“He’s probably lost a bit of confidence and hasn’t quite back to the form he had before the foot surgery.
“All of a sudden his ranking has dropped because his confidence has dropped so this is going to be great for his confidence.
“I think he just needs a change of luck on the draw side.
“You’re never far away - you just get that one win and then your confidence grows from there.”
Groth will join Thanasi Kokkinakis, John Millman and Jordan Thompson as Australians in the men’s singles draw, which gets underway on the opening day of the Games on Sunday.
Groth is the fifth athlete from the Border and North East to make the Australian Olympic team.
Corowa’s Marcus Fraser (golf), Mulwala’s James Willett (shooting), Wangaratta’s Belinda Hocking (swimming) and Tooma’s Charlotte Sutherland (rowing) will also compete in Rio.