Tennis: Game, set and a perfect match

Sam and Jarmila Groth enjoy a rare on-court appearance at the Australian open. Photo / Getty Images

In seven years, it will be a case of "we are 30-love". Jarmila and Sam Groth are 23-year-old tennis newlyweds who barely see each other.

Both tennis professionals, the gap in their respective rankings (she sits at 41 in the world; he is 351) means they almost never get a chance to play in the same city.

Wellington this week is a rare opportunity, with Jarmila entering the Challenger tournament that runs parallel to Sam's Futures event. Jarmila, now a naturalised Australian after growing up in Slovakia, describes having her husband on tour as "bittersweet".

"It's great to have someone who can relate to your experiences," says Jarmila. "[But] it's tough not seeing each other for weeks.

"We try not to talk about tennis all the time but if there is something we need to discuss, we talk about it when we are together. So when we go apart it is sorted; but after that no more tennis [talk]."

Jarmila says their bond always gets a reaction in the locker room: "Some players think it is great because he understands what I do and can always help me and hit with me but they also know how hard it must be. Managing a marriage is tough enough when just one of the partners is an athlete."

Jarmila "fell in love" with Australia after first going there as a 14-year-old, becoming a citizen in November 2009. In true Aussie fashion, she has picked up a couple of nicknames; though 'Grothy' and 'Bugsy' don't quite fall into the category of such classics like 'Afghanistan' (Mark Waugh) and 'Nobody' (John Eales).

She is coming off the best year of her career, winning her first WTA title in Guangzhou and reaching the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon. Sam reached a career-high ranking of 220 (November 2009), beat Mark Philippoussis in his last competitive match and hit the fastest serve at the 2009 Australian Open (230km/h) - but has struggled to move beyond the Futures circuit.

Apart from playing together at the Australian Open (Sam receives a wildcard) they occasionally play mixed doubles.

They had a "blast" competing for the Kansas City Wizards in World Team Tennis this year - but Jarmila jokingly lists her preferred court partners as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer with Sam only coming in fourth.

Both events start on Tuesday and also feature Kiwis Sacha Jones, Michael Venus, Rubin Statham and Marcus Daniell.

Other tennis couples

* Igor Andeev & Maria Kirilenko

* Radek Stepanek & Nicole Vaidisova (retired)

* Roger & Mirka Federer (Mirka reached a high of #76 in the world)

* Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf (Graf retired two years before their wedding)

* Ashley Harkleroad & Chuck Adams (Adams had retired but was her coach)

* Chris Evert & Jimmy Connors (Engaged after both winning 1974 Wimbledon)

* Chris Evert & John Lloyd