Melbourne VIC, Australia, 24 October 2017 | tennis.com.au

Sam Groth will end a 13-year professional career after next January’s Australian Open.

Speaking to The Herald Sun, Groth revealed that he was increasingly struggling with motivation as he traversed the globe competing.

Currently ranked 235th, Groth peaked at a career-high No.53 in a stellar 2015 season.

“It’s been something I’ve been thinking about since Wimbledon,” Groth said.

“I went to Newport, a tournament I’ve done really well at in the past. I ‘qualied’, won a round and I was playing John Isner on centre court and part of me just really didn’t want to be there.

“Getting out and competing and being away from home became tough.”

Also in 2015, Groth reached the third round at both the Australian Open and Wimbledon – his best major results – and won that year’s Newcombe Medal, honouring Australia’s most outstanding elite tennis player.

He was a regular representative of Australia’s Davis Cup squad, and formed part of the teams that advanced to the World Group semifinals in 2015 and 2017.

Several of Groth’s compatriots took to Twitter on Tuesday to honour the popular Aussie.

https://twitter.com/MattReid12345/status/922697157550989312

G-traiiiiiiiin

— Thanasi Kokkinakis (@TKokkinakis) October 24, 2017

Respect for @SamGrothTennis.. Top career mate. True blue Aussie. Great friend to have on the road. Respect ✊

— John Millman (@johnhmillman) October 24, 2017

Groth was also a distinguished doubles player, winning two ATP titles with Chris Guccione and reaching a further three finals.

Notable for his incredible serving power, he holds the world record for the fastest serve after belting a 263km/h delivery at an ATP Challenger event in Busan in 2012.

> Read the full piece on Sam Groth in the Herald Sun