CHAMP GROTH IS NORTHERN POWERHOUSE
Australian joins long list of famous winners at Didsbury
AUSTRALIAN Sam Groth won the AEGON Manchester Trophy after defeating countryman Luke Saville 7-5, 6-1 in yesterday’s final at Didsbury’s Northern Lawn Tennis Club.
Groth’s is the first name in 21 years to be engraved on a tournament trophy that has been gathering dust.
With the return of ATP tennis to Manchester, Groth joins a list of former champions including John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and the last winner in 1994, Pat Rafter.
The 27-year-old overpowered 21-year old compatriot Saville after going a break down in the first set.
Groth has the fastest recorded serve in the world (163.7mph) and rattled through his second set service games as well as breaking Saville in four consecutive games.
Accepting the trophy on court, Groth shared his delight with the crowd.
“It’s been a great week, I love playing on the grass – I grew up playing on it,” said the world number 72.
“There’s always a few more nerves playing a final and especially against a fellow Australian. Luke’s had a great week, toughing out a lot of games so good luck too him for the rest of the season.”
Both finalists paid tribute to the efforts of ground-staff at the Northern, praising the two grass courts used for the singles event.
“I’d like to thank the grounds-keeper for doing a lot of hard work on the courts. They’re in fantastic condition,” said former Boy’s Wimbledon Champion Saville.
Saville also said Manchester event the was ‘probably one of the best events on the Challenger Tour’.
Groth told the MEN: “A lot of times you turn up to tournaments and you thank this person and that person but the courts really did play unbelievably well this week considering the weather we’ve had.”
The praise will be music to the ears of Northern chairman Nev Hewer, who was also delighted with the event selling out for the weekend’s finals.
“For the players to say that is the highest praise we can get,” he said.
“We wanted to give the players an event experience with things like the Old Trafford tour we organised.
“We are delighted with how the week went and have to say a massive thanks to the council, we couldn’t have done it without them. We can only grow the event from here.”
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