Sam Groth wins Liberal preselection for Nepean

Tennis player turned commentator Sam Groth will be the Liberal candidate for the ultra-marginal seat of Nepean at November’s state election.

The commentator for Channel 9, which owns The Age, attracted 74 votes while his nearest Rival David Burgess, the party’s state electorate chair, received 33 votes. Former Bentleigh MP Elizabeth Miller Secured four votes.

The Liberals need to win Nepean, which takes in a section of the Mornington Peninsula, back from Labor to have any chance of winning the next election. Labor holds the seat by a margin of less than one per cent.

The former tennis pro, who holds the record for the world’s fastest serve, was backed by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, a tennis enthusiast, and the office of Opposition Leader Matthew Guy, which is keen to inject fresh faces into the state party.

Mr Guy tweeted Congratulations to Mr Groth on his preselection win.

Support also came from a string of other Liberal figures including former Premier Jeff Kennett and Brighton MP James Newbury.

In his written endorsement, Mr Frydenberg said the candidate had a “strong commitment to Liberal Party values ​​and is committed to promoting them in the public arena”.

“They will bring the same drive and determination they have demonstrated in his sporting and professional career to winning back the seat for the Liberal Party and making a valuable contribution to the Parliament.”