Melbourne VIC, Australia, 31 March 2014 | tennis.com.au

Sam Groth has moved to within striking distance of the world’s top 150 after his victory at last week’s ATP Challenger title in Rimouski, Canada.

The big-serving 26-year-old jumped 18 places to world No.153, setting a new career-high ranking and also helping him approach the Australian top five – fifth-ranked Aussie James Duckworth sits at world No.149.

The Rimouski Challenger title was Groth’s biggest-ever tournament victory.

> NEWS: Groth’s Challenger victory marks milestone

Compatriot Jason Kubler jumped 17 spots to world No.290 after qualifying for the main draw at ATP Challenger events in Panama City and Barranquilla, Colombia in successive weeks.

Kubler has risen almost 300 places in the past five months, helped by winning 25 of his past 31 matches.

The Queenslander is now within sight of his career-high ranking of 268th, set back in October 2012.

> see where the Australians stand in the latest ATP rankings

On the women’s side, Casey Dellacqua has continued her extraordinary rise up the WTA ladder, jumping five places to No.51.

The latest improvement came following her run to the third round of the Sony Open in Miami, where she came close to toppling 29th seed Venus Williams.

Dellacqua’s highest-ever ranking was achieved back in 2008, when she peaked at No.39.

> view the latest edition of the WTA rankings