26 March 2012 | Tennis Victoria

Victoria’s Sam Groth won his fifth ITF career title yesterday after winning the City of Ipswich Tennis International in Queensland.

The No.5 seed dropped the first set against fourth seed Jason Kubler but recovered strongly to win the match, 5-7 6-3 6-2.

The championship win marks a strong comeback for Groth after he took an eight month break from the sport last year. On the way to the final, the 24-year-old defeated the likes of Lukas Koncilia (AUT), Aaron Leeder-Chard (Mt Eliza, Vic), Matthew Barton (Collaroy, NSW) and No.7 seed Jose Statham (NZL), in a tough three set semi final on Saturday.

After the match Groth said he felt good on court this week and is happy to be back playing tennis again.

“This week I’ve played some of my best tennis. In the past I’ve had some really good weeks on clay and it’s something I’m certainly enjoying more and more.

“I probably started serving ok but was a little lethargic in the first, I was down a break in the second and sort of feeling it a little bit,  but after I got the break back to get it to two all, it psyched me up, and from there I went on a real roll.

“Jason has obviously had a great start to the year already; he’s won a few events on clay. He’s got a bright future ahead of him,” said Groth.