Few athletes successfully trade a racket for a seat in parliament. Sam Groth is one of them — and his path has been anything but quiet. A serve that once clocked 263 km/h made him a tennis headline, but his move into Victorian politics brought a different kind of spotlight. This profile lays out what’s verified, what’s reported, and what remains unclear about his dual-career life.
Age: born 19 October 1987 (age 37 as of 2025) ·
Height: 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) ·
Fastest serve: 263 km/h (163.4 mph) – world record at the time ·
ATP singles ranking (career high): No. 53 (10 August 2015) ·
Political role: Member of Victorian Legislative Assembly for Nepean (2022–2026)
Quick snapshot
- Fastest serve: 263 km/h at Busan Challenger 2012 (Tennis Australia (national governing body))
- Career-high singles ranking: No. 53 (August 2015) (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- Born 19 October 1987 in Mount Macedon, Victoria (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- Elected Member for Nepean (Victoria) in 2022 as Liberal Party candidate (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- Exact net worth — no official figure; estimates range $1–3 million (The Express (UK news outlet))
- Full details of allegations that led to resignation — limited public information (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- Specific reasons for leaving parliament — official statements cite “personal reasons” and “allegations” (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster))
- 2012: Sets fastest serve record (Tennis Australia (national governing body))
- 2018: Retires from professional tennis (The Tennis Gazette (tennis feature outlet))
- November 2022: Enters Victorian Parliament (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- February 2026: Resigns amid allegations (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- By-election in Nepean to be held (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- Allegations still under review; no charges publicly confirmed (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster))
- Groth’s future plans remain unannounced (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
Ten key data points sum up Sam Groth’s trajectory across tennis and politics.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Samuel Groth |
| Date of Birth | 19 October 1987 |
| Place of Birth | Mount Macedon, Victoria, Australia |
| Height | 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 88 kg (194 lb) |
| Highest Singles Ranking | No. 53 (10 August 2015) |
| Fastest Serve | 263 km/h (163.4 mph) – former world record |
| Career Prize Money | $1,507,378 (ATP) |
| Political Party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Parliamentary Term | 2022–2026 |
How old is Sam Groth?
Sam Groth’s birth date and place
Sam Groth was born on 19 October 1987 in Mount Macedon, Victoria, Australia (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). That makes him 37 as of 2025. Mount Macedon, a small town northwest of Melbourne, is also where he grew up and first picked up a tennis racket.
Bottom line: Groth’s birth date is one of the most solid facts in his biography, verified by multiple sources including his parliamentary profile.
What is Sam Groth’s height and weight?
Physical measurements
Listed at 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) and 88 kg (194 lb), Groth has the build of a classic serve-and-volleyer (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). His height gave him the leverage to generate the extreme racket-head speed behind his record serve.
How his build contributed to his serve
Tall players often generate higher serve speeds because they can drop the racket head from a greater height and use longer levers. Groth’s 193 cm frame, combined with a whip-like throwing motion, allowed him to reach 263 km/h — a speed that, at the time, topped even Ivo Karlovic’s 251 km/h (Tennis Australia (national governing body)).
A tall frame helps the serve but can hinder movement. Groth’s career-high ranking of 53 reflects that his game was built around one dominant weapon rather than all-court agility.
The implication: his physical attributes shaped a career defined by a single explosive skill.
How fast was Sam Groth’s fastest serve?
Record details
During an ATP Challenger event in Busan, South Korea in 2012, Groth hit a serve measured at 263 km/h (163.4 mph) (Tennis Australia (national governing body)). It was the fastest serve ever recorded at the time, surpassing the previous mark held by Ivo Karlovic.
Historical context
However, the ATP does not officially recognise Groth’s serve as the tour record because it occurred at a Challenger event, and radar-gun standardisation differs across tournaments (Tennis Australia (national governing body)). The official ATP record still belongs to a Grand Slam or ATP Tour match. For Groth, the discrepancy has been a talking point throughout his career.
Who is Sam Groth’s wife?
Marriage and family
Sam Groth is married to Brittany Groth, née Brown. They married in 2018 and have two young children (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)). Brittany has been a public figure in her own right, as the couple jointly brought defamation and privacy proceedings against the Herald Sun publication.
Public appearances
The relationship timeline attracted scrutiny: ABC News reported that Groth met Brittany in 2011 when he was in his mid-20s and she was 17 (ABC News (Australian public broadcaster)). The age gap and the circumstances of their meeting became part of the public discourse, especially during his political career.
What is Sam Groth’s net worth?
Tennis career earnings
According to ESPN (sports data publisher), Groth’s career prize money reached $1,793,640. The ATP official figure is slightly lower at $1,507,378 (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). The difference may reflect currency conversion or bonus payments.
Political salary and other income
As a Victorian MP, Groth earned a base parliamentary salary (publicly available data suggests ~$180,000 per year). Combined with sponsorship and appearance fees from his tennis days, his net worth is estimated by various sources in the $1–3 million range. No official figure exists, and estimates vary widely (The Express (UK news outlet)).
What allegations have been made against Sam Groth?
Nature of allegations
In February 2026, reports emerged regarding allegations of personal misconduct that led to his resignation from parliament (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). Official statements referred to “personal reasons” and “allegations” without specifying the nature. According to The Express (UK news outlet), Groth would not remain in parliament beyond the 2026 election after pressure from within his party affected his family.
Legal and political fallout
No criminal charges have been publicly confirmed. The details are limited and evolving. The resignation triggered a by-election for the seat of Nepean, which at the time of writing has not been held. Groth also stepped down as Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party on 28 January 2026 (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)).
Because the allegations remain unconfirmed and the legal process is ongoing, readers should treat all reports as preliminary. No court or official body has issued a final finding.
The pattern: Groth’s legal and political troubles are still unfolding, with no definitive outcome.
What was Sam Groth’s highest ATP ranking?
Singles ranking
Groth reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 53 on 10 August 2015 (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). This came after a strong 2014 season in which he broke into the top 100 for the first time (Tennis Australia (national governing body)).
Doubles ranking
His highest doubles ranking is No. 199, achieved in March 2015 (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia)). He also won two ATP 250 doubles titles with Chris Guccione (The Tennis Gazette (tennis feature outlet)).
Timeline
- : Sam Groth born in Mount Macedon, Victoria (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- : Turns professional (Tennis Australia (national governing body))
- : Sets world record for fastest serve (263 km/h) at Busan Challenger (Tennis Australia (national governing body))
- : Breaks into ATP top 100 (Tennis Australia (national governing body))
- : Reaches career-high singles ranking of No. 53 (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- : Retires from professional tennis (The Tennis Gazette (tennis feature outlet))
- : Elected to Victorian Legislative Assembly for Nepean as Liberal candidate (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
- : Resigns from parliament following allegations (Wikipedia (open-source encyclopedia))
The pattern: Groth’s career arc shows a rapid rise in tennis followed by a brief political term that ended in controversy.
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
After reviewing all available sources, the verified information outweighs the unknowns, but several gaps remain.
Confirmed facts
- Birth date and place (Wikipedia, Parliament site)
- Height and weight (ATP Tour profile)
- Fastest serve record (ATP Tour, multiple news sources)
- Career-high ranking (ATP Tour)
- Political party and term (Parliament site)
- Resignation from parliament (ABC News)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth (no official disclosure; estimates vary)
- Full details of allegations against him (ongoing, limited public information)
- Specific reasons for resignation – official statements refer to ‘personal reasons’ and ‘allegations’
The implication: the confirmed facts provide a solid foundation, but the gaps leave room for speculation.
In his own words
I broke the record for the fastest serve in tennis history, but the ATP doesn’t recognize it. That’s just the way it is.
— Sam Groth, speaking to The Tennis Gazette about his career
My family has been through enormous pressure. I have chosen to leave parliament to protect them.
— ABC News (Australian public broadcaster) reporting on Groth’s resignation
Groth’s public statements underscore a career defined by records and controversy — both on and off the court.
For a former tennis player who once held the fastest serve ever recorded, the transition to public life promised a new chapter. Instead, it ended abruptly with unanswered questions and a by-election. For voters in Nepean and observers of Australian politics, the lesson is clear: crossing from sport to politics can amplify scrutiny in ways that even the fastest serve cannot outrun.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Sam Groth still married?
Yes, Sam Groth is still married to Brittany Groth (née Brown) as of the latest reports. The couple married in 2018 and have two children.
What is Sam Groth doing now after politics?
After resigning from parliament in February 2026, Groth has not publicly announced his next steps. He may return to private business or other ventures.
Did Sam Groth win any ATP titles?
Groth won two ATP 250 doubles titles with Chris Guccione. He did not win an ATP singles title.
What record does Sam Groth hold for his serve?
He hit the fastest recorded serve in tennis history at 263 km/h (163.4 mph) during a Challenger event in Busan in 2012, though the ATP does not officially recognise it as the tour record.
How long did Sam Groth play tennis?
He played professionally from 2005 to 2018 — a 13-year career that included Davis Cup representation for Australia.
What was Sam Groth’s role in the Liberal Party?
He was the Member for Nepean in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and served as Deputy Leader of the Victorian Liberal Party from December 2024 to January 2026.
What are the allegations against Sam Groth?
Reports from February 2025–2026 indicate allegations of personal misconduct. No criminal charges have been publicly confirmed and the full details remain unclear.
Where does Sam Groth live?
Groth resides in Victoria, Australia, though his specific current address is not publicly disclosed.
Related reading
- Jannik Sinner: Biography, Ranking & Personal Life Myths — profile of another tennis player whose personal life drew scrutiny.
- Lidia Thorpe: her political journey from Greens to independent — the story of another Australian politician navigating controversy.