Tennis ace seeks out a new racket

SAM Groth is considering trading in his tennis racquet for a Sherrin.

Groth, who will retire from tennis after next month’s Australian Open, has revealed he is planning a return to local football.

The big-serving Australian played in Melbourne’s Eastern Football League for Vermont’s reserves side during a break from tennis in 2011, and said a recent in-house kick at Tennis Australia with the likes of ex-Roo Wayne Carey, former Saint Justin Koschitzke, ex-Crow Ben Rutten and games record-holder Brent Harvey had led to a potential revival of his local footy career.

Harvey, who played 432 games for North Melbourne before he left the club at the end of 2016, played this season at North Heidelberg and could be joined by Groth in 2018 — after some work on his boot.

“[Harvey] may have asked me if I was planning on having a kick of the footy next year,” Groth said on SEN.

“So I’ve been having a little bit of a chat to him and he’s prepared to help fix my kicking up a little bit.

“I can mark the ball, but my kicking sometimes leaves a little bit to be desired. He reckons if he’s getting me the footy and can teach me to kick it, then I’ll be kicking bags in no time. So I’m definitely thinking about having a bit of a run down at North Heidelberg next year.”

Groth, 30, has represented Australia in the Davis Cup in recent years and reached the third round of the Australian Open and Wimbledon in 2015.

At 194cm and “weighing a bit”, he said turning his hand back to football could fill a void once he farewelled tennis after next month’s grand slam.

“I’ve been to training and met a few of the guys and am obviously fully focused on the tennis at the moment, but I’m going to need something to fill that competitive void,” he said.