Sam Groth Visits Proton Australia Pickleball Open: Sam Groth, the former tennis player who holds the record for the fastest serve in tennis history, made an appearance at the Proton Australia Pickleball Open in Melbourne on Friday. Groth, who hit a serve at 163.7 miles per hour during the 2012 Busan Open, now serves as a member of the Parliament of Victoria and took the opportunity to check out the exciting pickleball action at the international event.
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Groth Enjoys the Change of Pace
“It’s a bit of a change from the courts that I’m used to, but I know there are a bunch of ex-tennis players that have picked up the sport. It’s so good to see a big pickleball event—an international event—here in Melbourne.” – (Groth)
Although Groth is no longer playing tennis professionally, he enjoys watching the sport evolve, particularly as former tennis players transition into pickleball.
Groth Reflects on Tennis and Pickleball
While Groth has not yet competed in pickleball, he does have a 1-0 record in tennis against Jack Sock, who transitioned to full-time pickleball on the PPA Tour in 2024. Despite his tennis success, Groth joked about the challenges of facing Sock on a pickleball court.
“I beat Jack at Wimbledon one year, but I reckon he’d take me down in pickleball at the moment. Maybe if I get a little bit of practice in, I can try and double up on that win.” – (Groth)
A Weekend of Exciting Pickleball Action
Although fans won’t see a Groth-Sock matchup this weekend, there’s still plenty of pickleball action to look forward to at the Melbourne Convention Center. The competition continues with men’s and women’s doubles, and fans can tune in to Pickleballtv to catch all the exciting matches.
News in Brief: Sam Groth Visits Proton Australia Pickleball Open
Sam Groth, the fastest server in tennis history, visited the Proton Australia Pickleball Open in Melbourne on Friday. Groth, who holds a career tennis win over Jack Sock, expressed his excitement for the growing pickleball scene but acknowledged Sock would likely have the upper hand on the pickleball court.
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