Sam Groth's best season just got better still, with the late-blossoming 28-year-old awarded the 2015 Newcombe Medal. Groth's name was added to an honour role that includes three-time winner Sam Stosur, Lleyton Hewitt and Nick Kyrgios.
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With top 30 pair Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic both ruled ineligible for disciplinary reasons, given that there is now an "ambassadorial" element on top of the excellence requirement for the top gong at Tennis Australia's annual awards night, Groth was chosen ahead of fellow nominees Stosur, rising star Thanasi Kokkinakis, doubles specialists Casey Dellacqua and John Peers and wheelchair champion Dylan Alcott.
In 2011, Groth spent part of a season playing suburban football with Vermont Eagles in Melbourne's east as part of the healing process after injury and a marriage split, unsure of what his tennis future would hold. A hugely positive answer has come in the past 20 months, his ranking having been as low as 176th just last March.
This year, which he started ranked 81st, the 193-centimetre Groth won Challenger titles in Taiwan and Manchester, reached the third round at Wimbledon and – with Hewitt – was a hero of Australia's Davis Cup quarter-final win in both singles and doubles against Kazakhstan in July.
He peaked at No.53 in singles before his season was ended prematurely by surgery to repair a nerve problem in his right foot. Once known solely for his thunderous serve, the affable Victorian has improved his fitness, groundstrokes and consistency under coach Ben Mathias, who was recognised as high performance coach of the year at the sixth annual presentation in Melbourne.
Ray Ruffels received the night's other major honour: the President's Spirit of Tennis Award, for his outstanding contribution to the sport as a player and veteran coach. Hewitt was also honoured ahead of his retirement in January, while and Omar Jasika and Kimberly Birrell were named the best junior athletes of 2015.
The full list of award winners
Newcombe Medal – Sam Groth
President's Spirit of Tennis Award – Ray Ruffels
Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability – Dylan Alcott
Tennis Senior of the Year – Bob Howes
Coaching Excellence (ANZ Tennis Hot Shots) – Adrian Muscillo
Coaching Excellence (Club) – Jason Lindeman
Coaching Excellence (Talent Development) – Janine Thompson
Coaching Excellence (High Performance) – Ben Mathias – Labrador, Qld
Most Outstanding Club – Alexander Park Tennis Club (Menora, WA)
Most Outstanding School – Brisbane Boys' College (Toowong, Qld)
Most Outstanding Professional Tournament – 2015 Mildura Grand International
Most Outstanding Australian Ranking Tournament – Bendigo Junior Tour and Australian Money Tournament
Excellence in Officiating – John Blom
Volunteer Achievement Award – Lyn Duffy
